MIAMI _ Havana will be placed under a strict curfew starting Sept. 1, as the government struggles to contain a coronavirus outbreak that threatens the island's recovery from the worldwide pandemic.
Cuban officials announced Thursday a 7 p.m.-to-5 a.m. curfew that will be enforced through increased police presence and members of government-controlled organizations such as the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution and the Federation of Cuban Women.
On the live TV show "Mesa Redonda, Round Table," the governor of the province of Havana, Reinaldo Garcia Tamayo, announced further restrictions on private transportation and access to the city.
"Entry and exit from the capital will be severely restricted," he said.
Store hours will be reduced, and people will not be allowed to buy at stores outside their neighborhood. They will need to provide identification proving they legally reside in the area before they can shop.
Only essential workers will be allowed to go to offices and factories. And the school-year start date, previously scheduled for Sept. 1, will be postponed in the capital.
The measures will be revised after two weeks but might last longer if the virus spread does not abate, officials warned.
After almost getting the pandemic under control, the government had to reverse the capital's reopening and impose a lockdown on Aug. 10. But the measures were not enough to quell an outbreak that has produced 1,220 cases of coronavirus just this month, most of them in Havana and nearby provinces.
Health officials have blamed people organizing private parties and lack of discipline in following preventive measures at some state institutions and factories for the virus spread. Infections have now been spotted all over the city.
Those who break the new restrictions will face stiff fines, as high as 3,000 Cuban pesos ($125), or might even go to jail. Parties "of any kind" are now prohibited, according to the rules published in the official website Cubadebate.
Garcia Tamayo said the measures were in response to public demand, but soon after becoming public they were criticized as too severe, especially those related to government stores selling food.
"Do you live in your partner's house? Did you move, inherit or buy a house and have not updated your ID? Do you live in a rental? Are you taking care of a friend's house? Were you visiting and couldn't return to your province? You will not be able to buy in stores from Tuesday on!" tweeted Camilo Condis, host of "El Enjambre" podcast.
