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People wearing masks are seen on the street in Havana, Cuba, April 11, 2020. Cuban government started to suspend public transport since Saturday as a preventive measure against COVID-19. Cuba has taken measures such as closing borders, suspending inter-provincial transport and shutting down schools to curb the spread of the epidemic. (Xinhua/Zhu Wanjun)
The U.S. blockade against Cuba hinders the arrival of international aid for the Caribbean island to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Francisco Duran, Health Ministry's national director for epidemiology, said Monday.
"Besides donations from China, which are very important, we have received help from different countries," as well as from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), among others, he said on TV.
"Despite the U.S. blockade, solidarity with Cuba goes on," he added.
The Chinese government and companies have been supporting Cuba's efforts to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus since the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in the Caribbean state on March 11.
Some 500 infrared thermometers, 2,000 sets of protective clothing, goggles and shoe covers, 2,000 N95 face masks and 10,000 surgical masks donated by the Chinese government arrived in Cuba earlier this month.
Also on March 11, 10,000 protective suits and 100,000 face masks donated by China's Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Co., arrived in the Cuban capital.
The Cuban authorities have also repeatedly accused the current U.S. administration of threatening governments that request Cuban medical brigades' assistance in the context of a global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cuba reported on Monday two new deaths from the coronavirus, bringing its death toll to 36 out of 1,087 confirmed cases.
