Last update: Monday 11th of January 2021. Havana Airport re-opened on 15 November 2020. To date, Cuba's health ministry says the island has had just 5,718 cases and 122 coronavirus deaths, lower numbers than many other countries in the Caribbean and Latin America. Cuba’s lack of resources, which hampers recovery from disasters, also contributes to a housing shortage that makes physical distancing difficult. "What if I get into an accident? Cuba is slowly returning to normality. When exactly Cuba will reopen is a constant source of speculation for Cubans. Travel may increase your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. That is no longer a requirement but could be re-introduced if the Cuban authorities implement any new measures. Join us on a 12-month journey to see them all, Find out which countries are welcoming US tourists back. Share. From 4am on 18 January, if you intend to travel to England, Scotland, or Wales, including UK nationals returning home from travel abroad, you must provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result taken up to 3 days before departure. On the list are the United States, Mexico, Panama, the Bahamas, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. Commercial airlines may insist you have a ticket for your onward connection to return to the UK to board the plane in Havana, and evidence of a negative test for COVID-19 taken within 3 days before your travel to the UK. "Life has to continue. See also the guidance on healthcare if you’re waiting to return to the UK. By Megha Paul On Dec 28, 2020. Check how the new Brexit rules affect you. If you have dual British and Cuban nationality, you are subject to Cuban measures. His savings long gone, Alejandro said friends from the US have wired him money to help him get by. Due to the impact of COVID-19 on travel, we’re sorry to say the following holidays will not be operating: All holidays due to depart from Cardiff, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow on or before 31 January 2021. The pandemic has reportedly choked the lifeblood of Cuba, the island's $3 billion tourism industry, which has suffered since March when the first coronavirus cases were reported. Cuba's economy, like other countries, has taken a hit as tourism has halted amid coronavirus and the country sees shortages in many basic items. In late September, Cuban officials began to ease restrictions in Havana -- where the pandemic has hit hardest -- allowing restaurants to reopen at reduced capacity and permitting people to swim in the ocean and visit the beaches again. Alejandro, the driver of a classic 1954 Chevy convertible who asked we not use his last name, is just one Cuban who works in the tourism industry and is feeling the pain. You will be required to present your (negative) test certificate to the airline and to UK Border Force on arrival in UK. Travel and COVID-19. Anyone arriving through Jose Marte Airport in Havana will be required to fill in a health declaration and undergo a second PCR test. Campsites are open also to a limited capacity. Elsewhere, churches can open for services, following government sanitary and distancing advice, Travel agencies may be closed and tourist excursions suspended. Visitors are allowed to hire cars (see important information in Road Travel section) but should check with the hire companies if they are open, have cars available, and check where you can drive to under current COVID-19 measures, before making plans. He said he knows why vintage classic cars like his Chevy are now a rare sight on the streets of Havana. The country has reported nearly 4,300 COVID-19 cases to date and 100 deaths. When you return, you must follow the rules for entering the UK. Cuba shuts down tourism as coronavirus cases rise. Also check if you need to self-isolate. Before you return to the UK you must provide your journey and contact details. Anyone with respiratory symptoms may be moved to a clinic or isolation centre and will have to pay for PCR test(s) and the medical services by credit card. Travelers visiting Varadero are required to have COVID-19 insurance and must bring proof of their hotel reservation. The Cuban tourism industry was completely shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic back in March but has since reopened its borders to international tourists. From 10 January 2021, public pools in Havana are closed, Beaches in Havana are closed. Local medical representatives will visit campsites and “casas particulares”. "There's no one," he gestured at the empty colonial streets of Old Havana. You must not leave home or travel, including internationally, unless you have a legally permitted reason to do so. All holidays due to depart from England on or before 12 February 2021. There is a really challenging economic situation right now," he said. The countries have finally started lifting the nationwide lockdowns amid COVID-19 pandemic to boost the tourism industry and the latest to join the bandwagon is Cuba as it now welcomes travellers. Shops in all Provinces can open but must limit the number of customers within the shop. Corona Virus (COVID-19) Information from Captivating Cuba. To shed light on frequent traveller questions such as: Your mobile phone roaming may not work in Cuba. Are COVID-19 tests required to travel to Cuba? You will have to pay for your COVID-19 test by credit card or with GBP or US Dollars (may be between $30 and $50). If you need to stay in hospital or under medical care, you must pay the bill by credit card when being discharged, or arrange payment directly by your travel insurance company. I wouldn't be able to afford to fix my car, and I need to have it ready for when things open.". Coronavirus worsens Cuba's economic woes Supply shortages are becoming more acute; plummeting foreign remittances and a lack of tourism aren't helping. See the TravelHealthPro website for further advice on travel abroad and reducing spread of respiratory viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The prospect of a Cuba holiday in winter 2020/2021 need not look as dire as it seems. Only Cubans returning home can enter By Nora Gámez Torres. If your PCR test is positive (even if you arrived with a certificate of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of your departure to Cuba) you will have to go into hospital or a centre being run by the Ministry of Health. Coronavirus travel health. Face masks must be worn at all times when travelling on buses, in taxis, and private hire vehicles. See ‘Returning to the UK’ section. Reopening updates Cuba Tourism. If you are travelling independently in Cuba, you can use the list of medical facilities to find the nearest test centre that can give you the result in time for your travel. One of these, Interferon Alfa-2B, is now being used to combat the effects of Covid-19, writes Helen Yaffe (University of Glasgow). You are advised to pack items to help you to pass the time in a medical facility or self-isolation. Before the coronavirus sealed off Cuba, Alejandro made $30 an hour showing tourists the sights from his classic Chevy, which he painted hot pink to grab visitors' attention. Any travelling companion may be required to self-isolate in their accommodation pending a negative PCR test result, or be tested themselves. International tourism is one of Cuba’s top hard currency earners, so its suspension this year has dealt a blow to the cash-strapped economy, even as the United States has continued to harden its decades-old trade embargo. In March, after the first three cases of coronavirus -- visiting Italian tourists -- were detected, the communist-run government said it would heighten screening at airports and that the island's expansive, if battered, state-run medical system could offer visitors "safe tourism" during the pandemic. Recovered: 12,022. The COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The restrictions, which include mandatory face masks in public and travel restrictions inside Cuba, do appear to have had an effect. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Shops can only open to sell essential food and hygiene products. While the Havana airport remained shut down, officials hinted that more lifting of restrictions was in the works. Brand new hotels just built by the Cuban government now stand roped off and empty inside. You may face a long queue to shop in a pharmacy. Cuba sets example with successful COVID-19 strategy Police stationed on every road leaving Havana are supposed to stop everyone who does not have a special permit to travel… Read guidance on how to look after your mental wellbeing and mental health. Why book with Cuba Travel Network. For more than six months Cuba has maintained one of the tightest lockdowns anywhere in the world to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Cuban authorities aim to have PCR test results within 48 hours but that is not always achievable given the high volume of testing. TD Editor . If you need urgent consular assistance, contact your nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate. You’ve accepted all cookies. Wearing a face mask in public is compulsory or you risk being fined, as is social distancing of a minimum of 1.5 metres. Cash payment (GBP, US Dollars, or Euros) is permitted too if credit cards do not work so you are advised to make contingency plans to bring cash with you. Background. We didn't think it would last this long.". All commercial air and maritime travel has been suspended since April 2, and anyone entering or leaving Cuba needs special government permission to do so. "The country has to provide services, produce and export," said Luis Antonio Torres Iribar, the head of Civil Defense for Havana province. All airports in Cuba are open again for commercial and charter flights. "There's no tourists, no income. All other current entry requirements and restrictions continue to apply. You should bring anything you might need with you. Over-the-counter medicines and pharmacy products are not always available. Travel in and out Havana is restricted from 12 January 2021 through specific check points with sanitary controls, and (public and private) transport services in Havana will only operate between 5am and 9pm. Airports, bus stations, train stations, and rest stops are all places travelers can be exposed to the virus. You should check the FCDO Travel Advice for any country you have to transit on your journey to/from Cuba, to keep up to date with current entry and transit rules. You should also bring your prescription medicines with you and think about bringing extra in case you have to stay longer than planned. These are also places where it can be hard to social distance. We’re 30 Cuban professionals with international standards of service. This means there are queues to enter shops. If you are legally permitted to travel, check our advice for the country you are visiting. For contact details for English speaking doctors visit our list of healthcare providers. While the Global Level 4 Travel Advisory has been removed, Cuba remains at Level 4. Medical teams in hotels will check on health of guests, including taking their temperature, and will be available to guests who feel unwell in between those visits. All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated, travel abroad and reducing spread of respiratory viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic, guidance on how to look after your mental wellbeing and mental health, nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate, About Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice, What to do if you’re affected by a crisis overseas, Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance and support, Transparency and freedom of information releases, Public parks can open, but currently only between 5am and 7pm in Havana, Social clubs, gyms, museums, gardens, theatres etc can open (except in Havana) to a limited capacity and visitors must observe social distancing, Swimming pools can open to a limited capacity and to restricted visit times, to allow cleaning for the next opening times. Any change in the situation in a province or municipality may mean inter-provincial or municipal transport links also change. Largest network of trusted Cuba partners to get you where others can't. From 13 January, shops in Havana will only be allowed to open between 9am and 5pm on Monday to Saturday and between 9am and 1pm on Sunday. Anyone who does not follow local rules can be fined or even prosecuted. A little girl wearing a face mask amid the new coronavirus pandemic gets her temperature taken at a police checkpoint, at the entrance to the province of Havana, Cuba, Monday, Aug. 10, 2020. The impact of six months with almost no tourism earnings is being felt across the island. During the period of Cuban government coronavirus measures, visa extension requirements were suspended while immigration offices have had limited services. The Cuban health and tourism authorities have just updated health and safety rules regarding the arrival of foreign visitors on holiday and published a list of measures with step-by-step guidance in the event of COVID-19 contagion. Owners of casas particulares will be able to help you to contact the local medical services. But as the number of cases continued to rise, the Cuban government switched course and implemented a full lockdown. For information on financial support you can access whilst abroad, visit our financial assistance guidance. We use cookies to collect information about how you use GOV.UK. Coronavirus; Population; World / Countries / Cuba. If you are staying in private home or a hotel, you are likely to receive regular home checks by medical representatives (known as “pesquisia”). Cuba is restricting travel from six countries from January 1 over COVID-19 fears. Cuba has implemented many of the same precautionary measures implemented around the world to minimize the spread of COVID-19, including social distancing, restricting travel to the island until further notice, and closing schools. All arrivals to Cuba are required to present a negative PCR test, no older than 72 hours. Cuba Coronavirus update with statistics and graphs: total and new cases, deaths per day, mortality and recovery rates, current active cases, recoveries, trends and timeline. If your PCR test is positive, any travelling companions with you will have to self-isolate in the accommodation and be tested again. You may not have any or much internet access. TUI River Cruises due to depart before March 2021. Learn more about Worldometer's COVID-19 data. Cuba closed its borders to international tourism on March 24 and after that date quarantined incoming arrivals of Cubans and foreign residents in … The Cuban government is not banning travel from those countries per se. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone. Cuba to require pre-arrival COVID-19 tests as cases rise. If coming to Cuba, you should pack masks, sanitary hand gel, handkerchiefs and other essential items that may prevent transmission, as these items are not always available in Cuba. Story continues below. COVID related restrictions remain in place in Cuba. ", There's a perfect beach for every week of the year. A partial shutdown closed Cuba’s borders, tourism, schools and public transportation and it appears infections are contained. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/cuba-coronavirus-lockdown-tourism "It uses a lot of gas," he said. Cafés, bars and restaurants (except in Havana from 13 January) are allowed to open but must limit the opening hours, the number of customers and separate tables by 1.5 metres. To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. All telephone numbers are available 24/7. See Entry requirements and check with the airline or your travel company for the latest information. You should contact airlines directly to know if and when they will have scheduled flights to and from Cuba. In July, the Cuban government began to allow international visitors to travel to small, isolated cays off the Cuban mainland where they would not be able to mix with locals other than hotel staff. You can change your cookie settings at any time. All tourists are required to stay in the ‘safe tourist corridor’ zone. Rather it is “restricting” travel from those countries. If you do not comply (and you do not have a valid exemption) your airline or carrier may refuse you boarding and/or you may be fined on arrival. Check the rules that apply to you in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. However, COVID-19 presents differences. Cuba’s top epidemiologist said Saturday irresponsible partying over year-end fueled a surge in coronavirus infections and he warned of a crackdown to contain the spread. Facing a … Last updated: 11/18/2020 There is a Level 4 Travel Advisory recommending U.S. citizens not travel to Cuba due to health and safety concerns and COVID-19-related conditions. We completely appreciate that the recent outbreak of Covid-19 raises lots of questions with travelling or planning travel in the near future. A woman wearing face mask walks along empty Paseo del Prado as protective measures against coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic are taken in Havana, Cuba (Anadolu/Getty) Cuba … Check with your tour operator and seek local advice if you have questions about excursions to other parts of Cuba, including whether car hire is allowed. From 1 April 2020, dual nationals required permission (from Cuban Immigration offices) to leave Cuba on the special repatriation and humanitarian flights. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. Cuba has been almost completely closed to tourism for months. Cuba is slowly opening Havana and other cities to tourism after doing the same with beach resorts in November, eager to breathe life into the devastated industry shuttered last … Beaches outside Havana are open, but limited numbers of people may be allowed, and there may be personnel at the beaches to manage access, Exercising on public roads in Havana is currently not allowed, nor is use of gyms or sports grounds, Religious gatherings in Havana are not allowed. Cuba . Travel and transport within and between Provinces varies according to the measures in place. Hotels and guest houses are open for Cubans and foreign residents of Cuba (known as ‘national tourism’) and for international tourists but to a limited occupancy. Each year we help more than 50,000 travelers from over 150 countries. "A lot of people who don't work in the industry but have family that do. Under current UK COVID-19 restrictions, you must stay at home. Cuba is restricting entry to travelers from six countries from January 1. Hotels may limit the numbers of people using facilities at any one time, especially swimming pools (if open) and elevators. Face masks are currently mandatory in all public area including transport. Thirteen of Cuba’s sixteen provinces will now be open to tourism as the country says it's successfully curbed coronavirus infections with strict measures and a … Check with your tour operator. On an island dependent on tourism, there are now virtually no tourists. Your emotional and mental wellbeing is important. All arrivals will have to present a health insurance covering COVID-19, or purchase one in Cuba. If your pre-departure test is positive, you will not be allowed to travel and will have to follow the Cuban protocols that include being admitted to hospital or health centre.. Coronavirus Cases: 15,007 . Advertisement. Tailor made experts – any itinerary is possible with any budget. At the beginning of 2021, the only direct flights between UK and Cuba were holiday charter flights to Varadero, although these are being suspended during the UK measures (advising against non essential international travel) announced on 4 January 2020. Check the latest information on risk from COVID-19 for Cuba on the TravelHealthPro website. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Guests may have to wear face masks in some hotel areas and facilities. The virus was confirmed to have spread to Cuba on 11 March 2020 when three Italian tourists tested positive for the virus. All tourism was banned; bars, restaurants and even the beaches were closed. 90 days from 15 November 2020. We use this information to make the website work as well as possible and improve government services. FILE PHOTO: A police officer organizes a line of people waiting to buy food amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Havana, Cuba, September 1, 2020. You are responsible for organising your own COVID-19 test within three days of your departure to the UK, in line with UK government testing requirements. Cuba's early entry into the biotech industry allowed it to harness international expertise and develop medicines to fight dengue fever and meningitis. Check the latest information on risk from COVID-19 for Cuba on the TravelHealthPro website. Some other countries have closed borders, and may further restrict movement or bring in new rules including testing requirements with little warning.