Havana, January 10 (RHC)-- Health authorities in Havana announced that as of this Wednesday PCR and antigen tests for people who are going to travel outside the country will be carried out exclusively in their municipalities of temporary or permanent residence.

According to a report by the Cuban News Agency (ACN), the PCR samples will be taken 72 hours before the trip, while the antigen test will be carried out 24 hours before, taking into account the requirements of each country of destination.

For the tests to be carried out, travelers must present an identity card or passport and a travel ticket, according to Yadira Olivera, director of the Provincial Center of Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Microbiology.

Olivera explained that the measure responds to the increase, since the beginning of the year, in the number of applicants for these tests to detect COVID-19, which has generated daily crowds in the four Havana health institutions authorized so far for these procedures.

Both types of tests will be carried out every day from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and the certificates will be issued from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., according to the ACN, which does not specify the cost of the operation.

The measure comes several days after Cuban authorities updated the COVID-19 diagnostic and preventive treatment protocols, among other reasons to "make a rational use of diagnostic tests, guarantee preventive and therapeutic drugs and redefine the criteria for admission to the health care network".