RESOLUTION __________________

A RESOLUTION calling for U.S.-Cuban collaboration to save lives in the fight against COVID-19.

WHEREAS, the U.S. has the highest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the world: according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there have been over 20 million confirmed cases and over 356,000 deaths with cases and deaths growing faster than ever; and

WHEREAS, available data shows U.S. deaths from COVID-19 fall disproportionately on Black, Latinx, and Indigenous communities; and

WHEREAS, in Washington State, deaths from COVID-19 also fall disproportionately on communities of color, with Hispanic people comprising 34 percent of the COVID-19 cases amongst peoples with identifiable race/ethnicities; and

WHEREAS, by its nature, a pandemic is global and the number of COVID-19 cases has topped 87 million cases internationally with almost 1.9 million deaths; and

WHEREAS, now is the time to call for international cooperation and solidarity in the face of this pandemic to save lives; and

WHEREAS, Cuba’s free community-based healthcare system, unified government approach, and robust biopharmaceutical industry have enabled the country to effectively deal with the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, the President of Cuba has noted that Cuba has a record of saving 80 percent of their patients in critical and serious condition while, worldwide, some 80 percent of Covid-19 patients in critical condition are dying; and

WHEREAS, Cuba has reported 1.3 deaths/100,000 people and the U.S. has reported 110 deaths/100,000 people from COVID-19, and compared to Cuba, the per capita rate of total cases in the U.S. is 56 times the rate in Cuba and the per capita rate of total deaths is 85 times the rate in Cuba; and

WHEREAS, Cuba has a long history of providing international medical aid and healthcare to the peoples of the world, especially in developing countries, under the banner that healthcare is a human right; and

WHEREAS, Cuba’s Henry Reeve International Medical Brigade was decisive in the fight against the Ebola epidemic in West Africa and has stepped forward in many epidemics around the world, including dengue fever, HIV/AIDS, swine flu and hepatitis; and

WHEREAS, since the outbreak of COVID-19, Cuba has sent 52 medical brigades equipped with Cuban pharmaceuticals to over 45 countries, with requests for similar assistance from more countries; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. blockade has severely restricted collaboration on scientific and medical research that interferes with the potential of saving lives in the face of this pandemic; and

WHEREAS, Seattle and King County are home to some of the most prestigious research, teaching, and medical treatment centers in the country; and

WHEREAS, the Washington State Labor Council and MLK Labor passed resolutions calling for cooperation with Cuba to save lives in the face of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, the people of Seattle and King County, the U.S., and the world can benefit greatly from cooperation amongst our institutions and governments in the battle against COVID-19 and other pandemics that may befall us in the future; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE THAT:

Section 1. The Seattle City Council encourages local medical, health care, scientific, academic, and pharmaceutical institutions to actively explore collaboration with their Cuban counterparts in knowledge transfer and joint collaboration between Seattle-King County and Cuban institutions in public health prevention methods, methods for preventing infection of health workers, innovation treatments, and development of new treatments, vaccines, and protocols.

Section 2. The Seattle City Council appeals to the Washington State Legislature and the Governor to actively pursue such exchanges, knowledge transfers, and collaboration, including but not limited to efforts to further joint development of drugs and treatment protocols in pursuit of the COVID-19 virus and communicable diseases.

Section 3. The Seattle City Council calls on our U.S. Congress and the future Executive Administration of President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice-President-Elect Kamala Harris to reverse the recent State Department designation of Cuba as a terrorist state, restore full diplomatic relations with Cuba, end the decades-long economic blockade, and engage in all mutually beneficial areas of human endeavor.

Adopted by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2021, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of _________________________, 2021.

____________________________________

President ____________ of the City Council

Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2021.

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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk

(Seal)