Havana, May 11 (RHC)-- Dr. Francisco Durán, National Director of Epidemiology of the Cuban Ministry of Public Health, reports that a considerable part of the population will be given tests to detect possible positive cases of COVID-19.

Durán explained that a representative sample of the population in provinces and municipalities will be taken on Tuesday, May 12th, to know in real time the progress of COVID-19 with tests known as TCR, which detect the new coronavirus before the disease manifests itself.

The case is to detect cases in apparently healthy people in regions that have not reported numerous infections with COVID-19 on the island and act accordingly, Durán said in his traditional press conference to offer a balance on the state of the pandemic in the island. 

The tests will be carried out in remote parts of the island to detect if cases of COVID-19 have developed in those areas that have not been previously detected to carry out a major intervention. 

Massive studies will begin in Cuba to find cases of coronavirus and study the contacts that may have been made, in order to reduce the spread of the pandemic in the Caribbean country, he said.  Both pharyngeal examinations and rapid tests look for cases that are important in the transmission of the disease, the spread of which is three times faster than other known coronaviruses.

Dr. Duran said the concern that exists for this coronavirus is due to its contagion power, which is why it is necessary to maintain confinement and health measures.