So different in their essence, the lethal novel coronavirus and an atmospheric phenomenon, respectively, against which Santiago de Cuba’s inhabitants have to fight at the same time.

Ahead of a peak of Covid-19 cases, the government sent several of its representatives to the most affected provinces and Deputy Prime Minister Ramiro Valdes heads the efforts to help contain the pandemic, as over 200 cases of Covid-19 were reported on Friday.

Although the threat from the hurricane is expected on Saturday evening and Sunday at dawn, the warnings from the General Staff of Civil Defense, and the reports from the Institute of Meteorology show new heights in its strengthening as it advances through the Caribbean.

Almost a year ago, in the second half of August, Tropical Storm Laura wreaked havoc in the eastern region of Cuba, only then SARS-COV-2 caused less damage.

Embedded in the memory of this city, the devastating passage of Hurricane Sandy will be nine years old next October, and before its onslaught, many in Cuba and other latitudes were surprised by the speed and efficiency with which Cuban men and women erased its traces.

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