The First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and president of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel, insisted Tuesday on the need to strengthen the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Havana.

Havana, Cuba.- Speaking at the Plenary Session of the Provincial Committee of the political organization in the Cuban capital, the president also made assessments on the leaders promoted in the context of the 8th Congress of the PCC, which concluded on Monday.

According to the Presidency's Twitter, the meeting was focused on three movements of officials, starting with Joel Queipo promoted to member of the Secretariat and head of the Economics Department in the Central Committee of the Party.

From April 16 to 19, the capital's Palacio de Convenciones hosted the meeting, in which the nearly 300 delegates approved the new structure of the PCC's top leadership.

Those present elected Díaz-Canel as the First Secretary and ratified the guiding documents to develop Cuba's economic and social model.

CUBA REPORTS 1,183 NEW COVID-19 CASES, 7 DEATHS

Cuban health authorities today reported 1,183 patients with COVID-19, the highest number of diagnosed in one day since the disease appeared in the country a little over a year ago.

At a press conference, the national director of Epidemiology, Francisco Durán, announced that seven patients died, bringing the total number of deaths to 538, and 95 754 the total infections.

By midnight, 5093 positive patients remained hospitalized. Havana reported 544 cases - and continues to be the epicenter of COVID-19 -, Matanzas 217, and Holguín 80. The Isle of Youth reported 0 cases, and Guantánamo 4. (RHC)