Havana, May 21 (RHC)-- The National Director of Epidemiology of the Cuban Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Francisco Duran, reported that there were 8 new cases of COVID-19, for an total of 1,908 positive cases across the island.  

During his daily press briefing held Thursday morning, Dr. Duran said that over the past 24 hours -- up to 12 midnight Wednesday night -- unfortunately, one patient died from the coronavirus.  This was the first death reported in seven days of a patient diagnosed with COVID-19.  A total of 80 patients have died from COVID-19 in Cuba over the past several months.

To date, 1,603 patients have recovered -- with an additional 30 patients released from hospitals during the day on Wednesday.