# The first Cuban death from COVID-19 is a pastor residing in Remedios

**Date:** 03/30/2020

The Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) reported on Saturday the death of the first Cuban from coronavirus on the island, a 52-year-old man residing in the municipality of Remedios, pastor Saúl Díaz.

"Today we received the sad news that this man of God, the pastor whom I knew since childhood and who was also an impetus and help to our ministry these years, TODAY departed to the heavenly mansions. I will never forget the man of God that you were, my family and I honor you and will always remember you. Our condolences to his family and especially his children whom we love so much," reads the Vencedores Cuba website, along with a photo of the pastor and his wife.

The reverend issued a final message on his social networks the day his disease symptoms worsened, and communicated that he and his wife would be transferred to the hospital under suspicion and that they needed "the prayers of all our brothers."

"I have been praying for many people and that is why we now ask that you pray for us. This is a very hard test and we ask God to end this terrible disease," said the pastor.

The reverend, who had recently returned from a trip to Spain, was not reported as serious according to the official version. The patient had been under surveillance for 11 days, was diagnosed with coronavirus on March 26, and presented a sudden onset of respiratory difficulties that was complicated by his pre-existing conditions of diabetes, hypertension, and chronic lung disease.

Díaz, resident in San Juan de los Remedios, 44 kilometers north of Santa Clara, died at the Manuel 'Piti' Fajardo Hospital at two fifteen in the morning this Saturday.

Pastor Saúl Díaz is survived by his wife Vivian and his son Daniel.

His family members and the people who had contact with him since his arrival from Spain are admitted in the former special school "Lino Figueredo," in Remedios, which has been set up to handle suspected cases of coronavirus.

"I am super inconsolable, may God put his hand and give strength to his family," "This news hurts me so much, you don't know how much, someone who was like a father to many," "How tough, what great pain, may God fill his family with wisdom and strength at this moment," "It is an extremely painful piece of news," commented some of Pastor Díaz's followers.