At the time of the demonstrations, Cuba was going through the most difficult stage since the coronavirus crisis.

Thousands of people took to the streets to stage a rare anti-government protest in Cuba. The coronavirus pandemic and economic crisis have caused frustration. Some demonstrators chanted “Down with the dictatorship” and “We want freedom.”

According to a video posted online, a protest was held on Sunday in San Antonio de los Banos, a town located southwest of Havana, with about 50,000 people, mainly young people verbally insulting President Miguel Diaz- Canel (Miguel Diaz-Canel). “We are not afraid,” someone said.

Clarice Ramirez, a local resident, told Reuters by phone: “I just walked across the town to buy some food. There were a lot of people there, some of them holding signs and protesting.”

“They are protesting against power cuts and no medicines,” she added.

Thousands of people also gathered in downtown Havana and parts of the seaside driveway. The police were present, and protests took place in Palma Soriano, Santiago de Cuba later that day.

At the time of the demonstrations, Cuba was going through the most difficult stage in the history of the coronavirus crisis and reported new daily records of infections and deaths on the same day.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic, Cuba has been sanctioned by the United States due to long food queues and severe shortages of medicines, and social anger has been driving.

Diaz-Canel addressed the nation late Sunday afternoon, accusing the United States of being responsible for the unrest. He warned that no further “provocations” will be tolerated.

Ed Augustine, a journalist based in Havana, said there are a large number of police officers in the capital. He said that in his speech to the country, Diaz-Canel called on supporters of the Cuban revolution to stand up and defend it.

“This is the biggest protest in Cuba in decades,” Augustine told Al Jazeera.

In the first few months of the coronavirus outbreak, Cuba was relatively safe, but the number of infections has increased recently.

Cuba: Due to reports of shortages of natural gas, electricity and vaccines, social media videos show rare anti-government protests in various cities.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel responded, calling it a provocation and calling on the supporters of the revolution to take to the streets.

-Gabriel Elizondo (@elizondogabriel) July 11, 2021

A new record of 6,923 daily cases was reported on Sunday, with another 47 deaths. “These shocking numbers are increasing every day,” said Francisco Duran, head of epidemiology at the Ministry of Health.

The country has been developing Five own COVID-19 vaccines Last month, one of them named Abdalla said, display 92% efficiency.

Cuban doctors and nurses have Scattered in the capital To encourage jabs, it is hoped that vaccination will help stop the rising number of infections.