Health Alert – U.S. Embassy, Havana, Cuba

Health Alert – U.S. Embassy, Havana, Cuba, July 22, 2022

Location:  Cuba

Event:  Since April 1, the U.S. Embassy has facilitated the repatriation of nearly 2,000 American citizens and qualified Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) to the United States.

On June 5, the Cuban government extended the closure of the airport until at least August 1.

In addition to the border closure, the Cuban government declared that all Cuban nationals were prohibited from departing Cuba during this time. Only those granted humanitarian exceptions by the Ministry of Migration can depart, if flights are available.

The U.S. Embassy has conducted 14 flights in three months and is exploring options to continue additional flights.

The Cuban government has declared that humanitarian flights to the U.S. are permitted only if they are organized by the U.S. Embassy directly, including all flight operations and logistics.  Other countries operating humanitarian flights in Cuba may not be subject to the same strict requirements.  Additionally, the Cuban government has required that all departing passengers be approved by the Ministry of Migration.

At this time, we are working to identify airlines able to meet requirements to offer additional flights.  However, we strongly encourage U.S. citizens to continue to make necessary preparations for an extended stay in Cuba during the quarantine period. Please comply with local quarantine requirements, monitor local news for information about Cuban travel advisories, and check with their airline operators regarding future flights.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, the U.S. Embassy is currently only providing emergency services to U.S. citizens. For emergency American Citizens Services, please visit our website for additional information https://cu.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/

We encourage all U.S. citizens in Cuba to register with the U.S. State Department using the following link: Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), and to monitor the Embassy website and Twitter feed for up-to-date information.

Actions to Take:     

  • Maintain communication with the U.S. Embassy in Cuba.
  • Monitor local media for updates.
  • Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information on COVID-19.
  • Visit the Department of State COVID-19 information page for the latest information.
  • Visit our U.S. Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information about conditions in Cuba

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