The Cuban Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) confirmed on Wednesday the presence of the coronavirus-COVID-19 in the country.

A press release read on the prime time TV newscast said that as a result of the surveillance program implemented in the country, authorities have been identifying and hospitalizing suspect cases of the disease.

The release added that on Tuesday, 4 Italian tourists were identified with respiratory symptoms. They were guests at a hostel located in the city of Trinidad, in the central province of Sancti Spiritus. 

The tourists had arrived in Cuba last Monday through Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport, and they continued that same day to Trinidad.

The Ministry of Public health informed that as soon the symptoms were detected, the four tourists were transferred to the Pedro Kouri Tropical Medicine Institute (IPK) in Havana.

The statement added that this Wednesday, March 11, the IPK National Laboratory reported that three of the four tourists had tested positive to the new coronavirus.

The Ministry added that surveillance and control procedures are being followed with the persons that the tourists contacted, who, as of Wednesday, presented no symptoms of the disease.

The release concluded stating that the three confirmed cases are in favorable conditions and that none of them till now has risks for their lives.