Cuba and COVID-19

That the Parliament commends the Cuban government for allowing the British cruise ship, Braemar, carrying COVID-19 patients to dock in Cuba at the behest of the UK Government, when several other countries had reportedly refused permission; understands that the stranded passengers will now be repatriated back home; further understands that, on 16 March 2020, Cuba had no new cases of COVID-19 in 48 hours despite medical staff conducting active searches in communities to identify and monitor all individuals with respiratory symptoms; applauds the actions of Cuban medics, who it understands have gone to Italy to help tackle and contain the virus; believes that interferon B, which is produced in Cuba, has effectively helped more than 1,500 patients with COVID-19 in China; considers that, as this is only one of 22 drugs produced in Cuba that are used to treat respiratory disease, the UK and Scottish governments contact the Cuban government regarding any assistance that it can offer, and urges that this action be taken as quickly as possible.