U.S.-Cuba News Brief: 11/19/2021

Dear Friends,

This Monday, November 15 (15N), activists in Cuba planned to take part in peaceful marches across the island in support of civil liberties, the release of political prisoners, and calling for a national dialogue. Despite being guaranteed the rights to assembly, demonstration, and association, activists were met with government repression, intimidation, and arrests. Read CDA’s statement on 15N here. For coverage and further analysis of November 15, read below.

CDA is seeking two remote spring interns! Interns work in three key areas: Policy and Advocacy; Communications and Social Media; and Nonprofit Development. The deadline to apply is November 30. Visit our website to learn more about the internship and to read reflections from past interns.

Save the date for Giving Tuesday this Tuesday, November 30! We are grateful for the many ways in which you support CDA’s work, and for those who have already supported CDA throughout 2021. During these weeks leading up to this year’s global day of giving, we invite you to consider CDA’s value to you. Your tax-deductible contribution this Giving Tuesday will help ensure the continuity of our work into 2022, including our U.S.-Cuba News Brief, public webinars, interviews with experts on matters pertaining to U.S.-Cuba relations and domestic changes in Cuba, congressional advocacy, comprehensive policy memos, and efforts to connect civil society actors from the region with policymakers in Washington.

Yesterday, Cuba reported 316 COVID-19 cases. There are currently 1,385 total active cases of COVID-19 on the island. The total number of cases since March of 2020 is 960,185 and the total number of deaths since March of 2020 is 8,290. Approximately 89 percent of the Cuban population has received at least one dose of a vaccine and 80 percent of the population is fully vaccinated. Cuba is hoping to reach full vaccination by the end of the year. Due to high immunization rates and slowing infection rates, Cuba welcomed back international travelers on November 15. For a graph of case numbers since March 2020, see here. For a detailed breakdown of all COVID-19 data, visit this website.

This week, in Cuba news…

U.S.-Cuba News Brief: 11/12/2021

Dear Friends,

CDA is seeking two remote spring interns! Interns work in three key areas: Policy and Advocacy; Communications and Social Media; and Nonprofit Development. The deadline to apply is November 30. Visit our website to learn more about the internship and to read reflections from past interns.

Save the date for Giving Tuesday this Tuesday, November 30! We are grateful for the many ways in which you support CDA’s work, and for those who have already supported CDA throughout 2021. During these weeks leading up to this year’s global day of giving, we invite you to consider CDA’s value to you. Your tax-deductible contribution this Giving Tuesday will help ensure the continuity of our work into 2022, including our U.S.-Cuba News Brief, public webinars, interviews with experts on matters pertaining to U.S.-Cuba relations and domestic changes in Cuba, congressional advocacy, comprehensive policy memos, and efforts to connect civil society actors from the region with policymakers in Washington.

Yesterday, Cuba reported 362 COVID-19 cases. There are currently 2,045 total active cases of COVID-19 on the island. The total number of cases since March of 2020 is 958,097 and the total number of deaths since March of 2020 is 8,279. Approximately 89 percent of the Cuban population has received at least one dose of a vaccine and 70.5 percent of the population is fully vaccinated. Cuba is hoping to reach full vaccination by the end of the year. Due to high immunization rates and slowing infection rates, Cuba is preparing to welcome international travelers on November 15. For a graph of case numbers since March 2020, see here. For a detailed breakdown of all COVID-19 data, visit this website.

This week, in Cuba news…

U.S.-Cuba News Brief: 11/05/2021

Dear Friends,

Next Monday, November 8, CDA and partners will host a webinar discussing the effects of U.S. sanctions on Cuba’s emerging private sector. “Impact of U.S. Sanctions on Cuban Entrepreneurs” will feature experts on Cuba and Cuba’s social economy in conversation with various Cuban business owners to discuss their first-hand accounts of obstacles that their businesses face as a result of the current limitations under U.S.-Cuba policy, and the further negative repercussions on their employees and families. The event will be live-streamed in English via Zoom on Monday, November 8 from 1:00PM to 2:30 PM EST. To join, pre-register for the event here.

CDA is seeking two remote spring interns! Interns work in three key areas: Policy and Advocacy; Communications and Social Media; and Nonprofit Development. The deadline to apply is November 30. Visit our website to learn more about the internship and to read reflections from past interns.

Yesterday, Cuba reported 606 COVID-19 cases. There are currently 3,057 total active cases of COVID-19 on the island. The total number of cases since March of 2020 is 954,948 and the total number of deaths since March of 2020 is 8,257. It was announced that approximately 88 percent of the Cuban population has received at least one dose of a vaccine and 65.9 percent of the population is fully vaccinated. Cuba is hoping to reach full vaccination by the end of the year. For a graph of case numbers since March 2020, see here. For a detailed breakdown of all COVID-19 data, visit this website.

This week, in Cuba news…

U.S.-Cuba News Brief: 10/29/2021

Dear Friends,

Yesterday, Cuba reported 866 COVID-19 cases. There are currently 4,378 total active cases of COVID-19 on the island. The total number of cases since March of 2020 is 950,613 and the total number of deaths since March of 2020 is 8,223. It was announced that 87.9 percent of the Cuban population has received at least one dose of a vaccine and 72.9 percent of the population is fully vaccinated. Cuba is hoping to reach full vaccination by the end of the year. For a graph of case numbers since March 2020, see here. For a detailed breakdown of all COVID-19 data, visit this website.

This week, in Cuba news…

U.S.-Cuba News Brief: 10/22/2021

Dear Friends,

Yesterday, Cuba reported 1,476 COVID-19 cases. There are currently 6,038 total active cases of COVID-19 on the island. The total number of cases since March of 2020 is 943,038 and the total number of deaths since March of 2020 is 8,153. It was announced this week that 99 percent of eligible candidates in Cuba have received at least one dose of a vaccine and 60 percent of the population is fully vaccinated. Cuba is hoping to reach full vaccination by the end of the year. For a graph of case numbers since March 2020, see here. For a detailed breakdown of all COVID-19 data, visit this website.

This week, in Cuba news…

U.S.-Cuba News Brief: 10/15/2021

Dear Friends,

Yesterday, Cuba reported 2,138 COVID-19 cases. There are currently 10,277 total active cases of COVID-19 on the island. The total number of cases since March of 2020 is 930,822 and the total number of deaths since March of 2020 is 8,018. Cuba is hoping to vaccinate 90 percent of the population by November and reach full vaccination by the end of the year. Currently, 50 percent of the population is fully vaccinated and an additional 28 percent is partially vaccinated. For a graph of case numbers since March 2020, see here. For a detailed breakdown of all COVID-19 data, visit this website.

This week, in Cuba news…

U.S.-Cuba News Brief: 10/08/2021

Dear Friends,

This weekend, be sure to check out Cimafunk’s new album, El Alimento. El Alimento is the second album from the Afro-Cuban funk group and features collaborations with George Clinton, Lupe Fiasco, CeeLo Green and more. Listen to the album here, and for tickets to see Cimafunk live, click here.

Yesterday, Cuba reported 3,396 COVID-19 cases. There are currently 19,493 total active cases of COVID-19 on the island. Pinar del Río reported the highest number of new cases for the sixth consecutive week at 766. The total number of cases since March of 2020 is 911,337 and the total number of deaths since March of 2020 is 7,777. Cuba is hoping to vaccinate 90 percent of the population by November and reach full vaccination by the end of the year. Currently, almost 50 percent of the population is fully vaccinated and an additional 36 percent is partially vaccinated. For a graph of case numbers since March 2020, see here. For a detailed breakdown of all COVID-19 data, visit this website.

This week, in Cuba news…

U.S.-Cuba News Brief: 10/01/2021

Dear Friends,

This week we continue our interview with Alex Gladstein, Chief Strategy Officer at the Human Rights Foundation and author of the recent article Cuba’s Bitcoin Revolution, about his thoughts on recent recognition of and regulations surrounding the use of cryptocurrencies by Cuba’s government and the potential benefits of cryptocurrencies for average Cuban citizens.

To read part two of CDA’s interview with Alex Gladstein, visit the “In Cuba” section. The full interview, including part one, can be viewed on our website.

Yesterday, Cuba reported 5,049 COVID-19 cases. There are currently 27,158 total active cases of COVID-19 on the island. Pinar del Río reported the highest number of new cases for the fifth consecutive week at 985. The total number of cases since March of 2020 is 882,477 and the total number of deaths since March of 2020 is 7,486. Cuba is hoping to vaccinate 90 percent of the population by November and reach full vaccination by the end of the year. Currently, approximately 82 percent of the population is partially or fully vaccinated. For a graph of case numbers since March 2020, see here. For a detailed breakdown of all COVID-19 data, visit this website.

This week, in Cuba news…

U.S.-Cuba News Brief: 09/24/2021

Dear Friends,

This week we interviewed Alex Gladstein, Chief Strategy Officer at the Human Rights Foundation and author of the recent article Cuba’s Bitcoin Revolution, about his thoughts on recent recognition of and regulations surrounding the use of cryptocurrencies by Cuba’s government and the potential benefits of cryptocurrencies for average Cuban citizens.

To read part one of this week’s interview with Alex Gladstein, visit the “In Cuba” section. Part two will be published next week. The full interview can be viewed on our website.

Yesterday, Cuba reported 7,695 COVID-19 cases. There are currently 36,795 total active cases of COVID-19 on the island. Pinar del Río reported the highest number of new cases for the fourth consecutive week at 1,864. The total number of cases since March of 2020 is 839,981 and the total number of deaths since March of 2020 is 7,104. Cuba is hoping to vaccinate 90 percent of the population by November and currently, there is approximately 76 percent of the population partially or fully vaccinated. For a graph of case numbers since March 2020, see here. For a detailed breakdown of all COVID-19 data, visit this website.

This week, in Cuba news…

U.S.-Cuba News Brief: 09/17/2021

Dear Friends,

This week, CDA issued a comprehensive memorandum which discusses and recommends detailed policy actions the Biden-Harris Administration could take to best support the Cuban people as they face a dire humanitarian crisis during the pandemic. The memo was accompanied by a press release and also provides a timeline of the Administration’s actions on Cuba from day one to present. To access a complete and detailed version of the timeline, click here. To read the full press release, click here.

Yesterday, Cuba reported 8,291 COVID-19 cases. There are currently 39,075 total active cases of COVID-19 on the island. Pinar del Río reported the highest number of new cases for the third consecutive week at 1,629. The total number of cases since March of 2020 is 784,416 and the total number of deaths since March of 2020 is 6,676. Cuba is hoping to vaccinate 90 percent of the population by November and currently, there is approximately 55 percent of the population partially or fully vaccinated. For a graph of case numbers since March 2020, see here. For a detailed breakdown of all COVID-19 data, visit this website.

This week, in Cuba news…