The official acknowledgment of the rampant spread of arboviruses in Cuba might signal the onset of fresh movement restrictions or partial lockdowns, even as the regime avoids directly naming them as such.
A meeting led by Miguel Díaz-Canel on Tuesday within the halls of the Palace suggested, through its bureaucratic rhetoric, a scenario that the government seeks to obscure with the term “health discipline.”
“We will handle this epidemic just like we did with COVID-19,” remarked the leader, a statement many Cubans interpret as a thinly veiled warning.
That approach—implemented between 2020 and 2021—resulted in curfews, epidemiological cordons, and the militarization of entire communities under the guise of viral control. Today, history might repeat itself with dengue, chikungunya, and Oropouche serving as the new pretexts.
The official article from the Presidency's website outlined a strategy focused on “admitting all febrile patients,” even at home, through “home isolation” and “monitoring by basic health teams and medical students.”
Behind this technical jargon lies a familiar policy: population control disguised as a health protocol.
In Cuba, terms like “discipline,” “isolation,” and “monitoring” have historically been employed to justify mobility restrictions and neighborhood surveillance. “Medical visits” and “home admissions” could, as during the pandemic's harshest days, transform into mandatory confinements overseen by the Interior Ministry's repressive organs.
While the government evokes the “COVID-19 experience” and holds weekly meetings with experts, it refrains from releasing updated data on mortality, outbreaks, or hospital coverage. Once again, opacity and propaganda replace truthful information.
Dr. Yagen Pomares, Director of Primary Care, admitted that achieving “patient discipline” during isolation is “complicated,” a phrase that exposes both the coercive intent of the plan and its structural inefficiency. Lacking resources, the regime resorts to social control and fear as tools for health management.
The official discourse hints that Cuba might be on the verge of a covert form of lockdowns, absent public decrees or statistics, yet following the same script as always: the propaganda of collective sacrifice, neighborhood surveillance, and the systematic denial of truth.
Understanding Cuba's Health Crisis and Lockdown Strategies
What are the arboviruses affecting Cuba?
The arboviruses currently affecting Cuba include dengue, chikungunya, and Oropouche, which are transmitted by mosquitoes and can cause significant health issues.
How did Cuba handle the COVID-19 pandemic?
Cuba addressed the COVID-19 pandemic through strict measures such as curfews, community lockdowns, and militarization under the pretense of controlling virus spread, often using these measures as a form of social control.
Why is there concern about new lockdowns in Cuba?
There's concern because the government might implement new lockdowns under the guise of health protocols, similar to past measures that restricted freedoms and increased state control over daily life.