Throughout the current global epidemiological crisis, generated by the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, health workers have been bearing the brunt of the effort to save the lives of victims, often at great personal risk of catching the virus themselves.

Since lockdowns were announced in several nations across the world to stop its spread, people have been taking to their windows and balconies to show their support and solidarity with rounds of applause.

Here in Cuba, a new tradition has been set, coinciding with the century-old traditional cannon-fire ceremony held every night at Havana’s Morro-Cabana Fortress. At exactly 9:00 pm (local time), people across the country literally drop whatever they are doing to join in a rousing round of applause. From their front doors, gardens, windows, living rooms, balconies – wherever, Cubans express their eternal gratitude to all the Nurses, Doctors and health technicians, who either in the country or abroad, are risking their own lives to save the lives of others.

Cubans so honor the work and sacrifice of those on the frontline in the global fight against this new common enemy of all of humanity.