Cuba relaxes coronavirus restrictions 7 months into pandemic

Cuba is relaxing coronavirus restrictions in hopes of boosting its economy

Havana — Cuba relaxed coronavirus restrictions Monday in hopes of boosting its economy. allowing shops and government offices to reopen and welcoming locals and tourists at airports across the island except in Havana.

Face masks and social distancing remain mandatory, although authorities will no longer isolate those who have been in contact with suspected cases as the island returns to a semblance of normality.

The popular beach resort town of Varadero will open to foreigners starting Thursday, with all tourists coming to Cuba facing mandatory testing and epidemiological monitoring while on the island.

The change comes after officials acknowledged the need to reactivate an economy hit by pandemic restrictions and recent sanctions the U.S. has imposed as President Donald Trump seeks votes from anti-Castro Cuban-Americans ahead of the…