Last Updated on June 20, 2020, 6:52 AM AST by Anthony Morris
Ever since the novel coronavirus made its first appearance in Cuba, a tall cardboard box which has legs and arms can be spotted walking around in the Havana suburb, going into the bakery or at the butcher’s shop, or can be seen browsing the newspaper stand.
In that cardboard box, is 82-year-old Feridia Rojas, who has decided to build and wear the mobile housing to shield herself from the novel coronavirus which is particularly lethal for the seniors that too in a country where the personal protective equipment is not sold at stores.
In a witty reply to Cuba’s coronavirus slogan, “Stay at home”, the message on her box reads, I am at home, what about you?
Rojas is a widower, and both her daughters live in the United States.
She said that she has no one to run her errands, so she had to find a way to run her errands safely all by herself, showing the resourcefulness and humour for which the Cubans are famous.
Rojas added that she was worried regarding the asymptomatic cases who could cough just as she passed. So she thought that she would make a little house with a cardboard box and wear it wherever she goes.
The retired Cuban nurse has taken that box from the pharmacy in her Palatino neighbourhood and then cut armholes and also a window for her face which she has covered with clear plastic.
On the top of the box, she glued cake boxes to make it look like a house with a roof rather than an apartment building which has a flat top.
Her neighbour Zayda Echemendia said that Rojas is very creative and added that Rojas helped the locals with injections at home.
While her mobile home may not be much necessary now as Cuba’s outbreak seems to have come under control, Rojas said that it still provided the necessary comic relief.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
