Havana, September 22 (RHC)-- With 407 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in the country during the past week, the number 28 since the first three cases were confirmed in March, this is the highest number of people infected since the beginning of the epidemic in the national territory, said the Minister of Public Health, José Angel Portal Miranda.

Speaking on Monday at the daily meeting of the temporary working group for prevention and control, of the disease headed by President Miguel Díaz-Canel, the minister said that Havana and Ciego de Ávila, with 192 and 132 patients diagnosed, respectively, accounted for 80% of the cases reported last week.

The ministry stressed the high dispersion of the virus that exists in both provinces.

Portal Miranda stressed that at a time when a new outbreak of the disease has spread it through ten provinces of the country, increasing again the numbers of infections, the daily routine continues to show that individual responsibility and discipline are essential elements to stop the spread of the epidemic.

Meanwhile, the National Director of Epidemiology, Francisco Duran, says that after over 8000 PCR tests performed on Monday, 81 people tested positive in the national territory and one person died.

Speaking at the daily briefing on the disease, Duran said that Havana had the most cases with 42, followed by Ciego de Avila with 24, confirming that both provinces remain leading the cases of COVID-19 in the country.