The Cuban government on Tuesday announced the decision to suspend the arrival of international passenger flights and withdraw all foreign boats as part of the measures to contain the spread of coronavirus. Cuba will cease all international flights beginning April 2.
Miami-Dade County is Cuba’s largest international market, with 1.3 million total passengers annually and daily flights between Miami International Airport and the island nation.
The U.S. Embassy in Cuba advises U.S. citizens in Cuba who normally live in the United States to arrange for immediate return or be prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period, and that U.S. citizens with upcoming travel plans to Cuba must postpone their visits.
“I am pleased that the Cuban government has responded to pressure from the United States to suspend all of its international flights, which included daily flights arriving in Miami-Dade County. Suspending travel to our community from Cuba will help us stop the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. Unfortunately, Cuba’s communist dictatorship has a long history of providing untrustworthy information filled with inaccuracies to the public,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez.
Cuba, which has confirmed 186 cases of coronavirus, partially closed its borders last week, banning the arrival of foreign tourists and the departure of Cubans.
