Coronavirus - In the DR

[TropicalPaul]

I'd like to know whether hotels are included in the ban on commercial activity. If this is the case, then closing all the hotels in Bavaro will be devastating for the economy. Given that a) there are hardly any cases in DR and b) scientists are saying that the virus struggles to survive in the Dominican climate, this seems like a really foolish move and just playing copy-cat with what other countries are doing rather than thinking things through. The DR has a relatively young population. Most people who get Coronavirus have a couple of days in bed, only those who are old or have underlying health conditions are at risk of death. In my opinion closing down all businesses, especially the hotels, will lead to such economic devastation that a lot of people will face hunger and so have weakened immune systems unable to deal with the virus when it does come.

In the UK they are saying that the only point of these restrictions is to slow down the spread of the virus. The same number of people - around 60% they estimate - are going to get the virus, just over a longer period of time. The aim of slowing down the spread rate is to give scientists more time to develop a vaccine, and let the hospitals cope.

And the same is true in DR. Basically shutting the borders and businesses now may delay the virus, but the minute you open them again and bring the tourists back, back will come the virus.

Finally, I think in causing so much suffering and hunger, Danilo has pretty much handed the May elections to Abinader on a plate. After two months of no work, no food, high crime, no bars, no shops, everyone will be even more desperate for change.

 

[malko]

Me thinks security should be our ( expats ) main concern now...... if this virus situation continues for any length of time, it won't be very long before all hell breaks lose here in the dr........
And we are the odd ones out here......

 

[TropicalPaul]

Me thinks security should be our ( expats ) main concern now...... if this virus situation continues for any length of time, it won't be very long before all hell breaks lose here in the dr........
And we are the odd ones out here......

Yes 100% right, unemployment is going to shoot up and so will crime rates. Dominican businesses are generally running in such a precarious financial position that they won't be able to afford even 15 days of zero revenue, so goodbye staff. Especially in tourism, which is already heading into low season in a few weeks time.

 

[malko]

Yes 100% right, unemployment is going to shoot up and so will crime rates. Dominican businesses are generally running in such a precarious financial position that they won't be able to afford even 15 days of zero revenue, so goodbye staff. Especially in tourism, which is already heading into low season in a few weeks time.

And we ( expats ) may have been able to stock up on food and water and stuff, but a large part of dominicans live/eat thanks to daily colmado trips........ if/when jobs become scarce things could get ugly fast.
I guess it all depends on whether colmados continue with the fia way of life....... i sure wouldn't if i was a colmado owner......lol.

 

[Cdn_Gringo]

It is my understanding that as of tomorrow morning no foreigners will be entering the country and that includes tourists for the next 30 days. Yes lots of hotels are going to be effectively empty and some will shut down operations. If the border closings are extended beyond 30 days, then I suspect all of them will close until a sufficient number of tourists return to make operations viable again. It would be great if the DR economy was more than just tourism. Too bad the DR doesn't produce medical ventilators or medical PPE. Sooner or later this country needs to diversify it's economy so disruptive events don't completely disrupt the system as is the case today.

Correct, a lockdown/quarantine does not eliminate a virus. The purpose as you correctly state TropicalPaul is to slow the spread of the virus so hospitals and other essential services can cope. With runaway exponential spread, the 60%-80% of initial cases would all occur over a very short period time, just a few months. If allowed to unfold this way it is possible that so many people would be sick at the same time, taking two or more weeks to recover, that there are not enough employees and engineers able to keep the power plants running or the water distribution system functioning, food delivered to stores etc. Getting government services is a lengthy process much of the time anyways but a decimated govt bureaucracy serves no one.

We have already seen that the economy and the health of the population are priorities 1 & 2 for all govts. If the spread of disease cannot be brought down to a sustainable level, politicians will have to choose between people or the economic system. Most countries thus far have focused on the people and have let the economy slide and are doing their best to limit that debacle with stimulus packages and throwing money around. The UK is a stark example of the opposite. No lockdowns (except fo the elderly who don't go to work anyway), schools still open etc. The UK is focusing on their economy and hoping that the extra time and efforts will pay off down the road.

With this virus and its rate of infection and a relatively low rate of mortality leaders will come to the point where some tough decisions need to be made. Does a country take the hit and let up to 1% of it's population perish so that in relatively short order the economy can begin to function again or do they tank the economy to save as many elderly, infirm and a few healthy people at the expense of a nation's ability to operate within a capitalist system?

Hmm, I think I know where this is going. I wonder how long it will take to get there?

 

[caribmike]

Unfortunately there will be no choice. Sacrifices like that will happen sooner or later. We canot have the whole world stand still. This will cost more lives than the virus does.

 

[TropicalPaul]

. The UK is a stark example of the opposite. No lockdowns (except fo the elderly who don't go to work anyway), schools still open etc. The UK is focusing on their economy and hoping that the extra time and efforts will pay off down the road.

No this isn't correct. The UK government is completely basing its decisions on medical experts who are doing statistical models of the impact of the virus. Each time the PM speaks he has this guy next to him with a chart showing where the infection rate is and is likely to be. They have always been clear that there will come a point where people need to self-isolate and this time is fast approaching, but they have said that if you ask everyone to self-isolate before the right time, they are less likely to do it when the right time comes. The Dominican government is making exactly this mistake. Only a handful of cases, but now they ask everyone to shut everything down. Basically if you have to choose a few weeks to shut everything down, it wouldn't be these next few weeks. And in any country, there are limits to how long you can keep a population in lock-down and how long you can justify keeping all your businesses closed.

 

[Africaida]

And we ( expats ) may have been able to stock up on food and water and stuff, but a large part of dominicans live/eat thanks to daily colmado trips........ if/when jobs become scarce things could get ugly fast.
I guess it all depends on whether colmados continue with the fia way of life....... i sure wouldn't if i was a colmado owner......lol.

Agreed with everything. Some households dont even own a fridge.


I just can't fathom how things will turn out for towns which rely heavily on tourism with tourists pretty much gone. How about the number of empty gringo villas ? Wouldn t be surprised if break ins go up.

 

[malko]

Well, at the least the dr gvt.can now say, " you didn't self-isolate when we issued the recommendation, and now you need a hospital bed and a.ventilator ? Tough sh.it..... should have listened ".

I did the same at my local level, like 10 days ago. Gave them a heads up on stocking up, hygiene measures and social-distancing....... you didn't heed the warning, and now you need a ride to hospital because you can't breathe ? Tough sh.it.

I still believe everything will be OK and could soon be a bad memory......but better safe than sorry.

 

[Cdn_Gringo]

No this isn't correct.

Actions speak louder than words. Yes lockdowns are coming to the UK. Yes schools will eventually be closed. Yes commercial activities will be curtailed or constrained, but they haven't been yet despite the claims of BJ and whoever he is standing next to that people come first. When the DR or Peru or a multitude of equal or lessor countries act before a G7 country you have to ask why that is.

As always that's my opinion, based on how I interpret what I read and see on the news.

 

[TravelHippo]

Sorry if this has been confirmed but I don’t think it has been 100%. Are outbound flights still going after the border closure takes effect on Thursday morning? I have 5 Canadian teachers with flights to Canada on Friday and Saturday... so just trying to get a sure answer on whether or not those flights will still be going by Friday. Thanks to anyone who has a pretty certain answer so I can pass it on to them.

 

[malko]

Agreed with everything. Some households dont even own a fridge.


I just can't fathom how things will turn out for towns which rely heavily on tourism with tourists pretty much gone. How about the number of empty gringo villas ? Wouldn t be surprised if break ins go up.

If this virus thingy keeps getting worse, it will not only be the empty gringo villas that will be at risk, but the occupied ones to
There can be a tipping point that will not necessarly be scientific related, as in the virus will still not be that virulent, and social disorder could ( not will ) be widespread. All it would take is a thousand or so declared cases in the dr for us to start seeing panic.
For a lot of dominicans, no job means no money.

Common sense tip : if by some poor planning on ones part, one has arrived recently in the dr from abroad, DO NOT TELL people ......lol

 

[AlterEgo]

Me thinks security should be our ( expats ) main concern now...... if this virus situation continues for any length of time, it won't be very long before all hell breaks lose here in the dr........
And we are the odd ones out here......

I said this yesterday to Mr AE. How long before desperate people eye those they think have food and money in their homes? Definitely something to think about now and plan for.

 

[Russell]

Corona Virus in the DR!!!!
Yup it is here alright ...
just because the long awaited Presidential speech did not appease your psychic does not mean the end of your world.
People or the economy!
People first and economy last.
That is the choice of Government. But the measures last for but until the 23 March.
Speculation of what will happen next is just that ''speculation''.
The same speculation that will crash the Stock Markets worldwide.
The DR will be no exception to the rule of survival.
Danilo spoke of People pulling together as one big DR Family , the pride of the Country........
Then there are the ones who hope to make a 'dollar' on the Pandemic ...thats capitalism .
First this Dr1 site promoted doubt that the Government would do something positive to curb the spread of the virus; then when that was settled last night ; now we are debating what was wrong and new paranoia and fear is surfacing ;
If you are worried that your poor neighbor is going to attack you for your food...then share with them! Buy them some rice and beans ....Dominicans are constantly sharing with others who have nothing...I know because my extended family does quite well through sharing. That includes me.
Will the land stop producing, the ocean not have any fish, give me a break.
Stop the shoot the neighbor ship...
Yes security is paramount; but it has always been so.
We have always had poor people without sustenance, but they still survive.
We live in a third world developing country ; what do you expect ?
You had opportunity to leave and you are still here.
Deal with it..... and stop posting your fear mongering philosophy.

I am 77 years young.... respiratory damage, diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney stone factory all within one overweight body.
The last thing I think about is a mob of Locals attacking me for 'rice' .... I don't eat rice!
Ship! I could go on for pages here, but I won't .... lets keep Dr1 just a little bit positive and stop the speculating ..
"Assume nothing and act upon fact''
Stop dreaming up the apocalypse ... nobody is getting out of this life alive.... so enjoy what you have today .
If you don't live here then you cannot appreciate what we that do live here are thinking ...
None of us are the same, so we all have our thoughts and approaches to life....
I have lots of negative thoughts and opinions... posting them on Dr1 is not going to help.
What we need now here in the DR is morale support from the members and not more negative ship.
Geez , I feel better!
Russell

 

[TropicalPaul]

Sorry if this has been confirmed but I don’t think it has been 100%. Are outbound flights still going after the border closure takes effect on Thursday morning? I have 5 Canadian teachers with flights to Canada on Friday and Saturday... so just trying to get a sure answer on whether or not those flights will still be going by Friday. Thanks to anyone who has a pretty certain answer so I can pass it on to them.

They have said that they will empty planes to come in and do repatriation flights, but only these. There have been several such flights this week already back to Europe. I would suggest you get them out of the country asap as I don't think any airline is going to send a plane just for a handful of people and there are a lot of stories emerging in other countries of people being stranded because there are no flights and foreign embassies saying "hmmmm, good luck with that"

 

[malko]

Corona Virus in the DR!!!!
Yup it is here alright ...
just because the long awaited Presidential speech did not appease your psychic does not mean the end of your world.
People or the economy!
People first and economy last.
That is the choice of Government. But the measures last for but until the 23 March.
Speculation of what will happen next is just that ''speculation''.
The same speculation that will crash the Stock Markets worldwide.
The DR will be no exception to the rule of survival.
Danilo spoke of People pulling together as one big DR Family , the pride of the Country........
Then there are the ones who hope to make a 'dollar' on the Pandemic ...thats capitalism .
First this Dr1 site promoted doubt that the Government would do something positive to curb the spread of the virus; then when that was settled last night ; now we are debating what was wrong and new paranoia and fear is surfacing ;
If you are worried that your poor neighbor is going to attack you for your food...then share with them! Buy them some rice and beans ....Dominicans are constantly sharing with others who have nothing...I know because my extended family does quite well through sharing. That includes me.
Will the land stop producing, the ocean not have any fish, give me a break.
Stop the shoot the neighbor ship...
Yes security is paramount; but it has always been so.
We have always had poor people without sustenance, but they still survive.
We live in a third world developing country ; what do you expect ?
You had opportunity to leave and you are still here.
Deal with it..... and stop posting your fear mongering philosophy.

I am 77 years young.... respiratory damage, diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney stone factory all within one overweight body.
The last thing I think about is a mob of Locals attacking me for 'rice' .... I don't eat rice!
Ship! I could go on for pages here, but I won't .... lets keep Dr1 just a little bit positive and stop the speculating ..
"Assume nothing and act upon fact''
Stop dreaming up the apocalypse ... nobody is getting out of this life alive.... so enjoy what you have today .
If you don't live here then you cannot appreciate what we that do live here are thinking ...
None of us are the same, so we all have our thoughts and approaches to life....
I have lots of negative thoughts and opinions... posting them on Dr1 is not going to help.
What we need now here in the DR is morale support from the members and not more negative ship.
Geez , I feel better!
Russell

Hope for the best, plan for the worst.....

 

[TropicalPaul]

you didn't heed the warning, and now you need a ride to hospital because you can't breathe ? Tough sh.it.
.

I think if someone was genuinely dying in front of you, you probably wouldn't saying that. Well I hope you wouldn't. I also wonder how someone who has no extra cash and literally lives day-to-day (like a huge proportion of Dominicans) is expected to find extra money to stock up and buy extra things?

 

[ctrob]

Sorry if this has been confirmed but I don’t think it has been 100%. Are outbound flights still going after the border closure takes effect on Thursday morning? I have 5 Canadian teachers with flights to Canada on Friday and Saturday... so just trying to get a sure answer on whether or not those flights will still be going by Friday. Thanks to anyone who has a pretty certain answer so I can pass it on to them.

I don't have an answer on that question, but if I needed to get out I would pack a small carry on, and get to the airport - leave the big bags behind. Face to face with the gate agents. If nothing else, they'll see you're determined. And you might not get bumped on Thursday or Friday.

The airport is the place to be, and politeness counts big time.

 

[malko]

I think if someone was genuinely dying in front of you, you probably wouldn't saying that. Well I hope you wouldn't. I also wonder how someone who has no extra cash and literally lives day-to-day (like a huge proportion of Dominicans) is expected to find extra money to stock up and buy extra things?

You are probably right....... but at the least it could give them food for.thought

 

[PeterInHigüey]

Yes ! The US has practically come to a stand still & for a country like DR which is mostly tourism.. this will have a huge effect ! I just cancelled my flight and Airbnb for 2 weeks I guess I will see my chula in April.

I think he is over reacting considering its not wide spread in DR

Timing is everything. If they shut down too early it makes it harder to do it again later when it would have more effect. I think it's still too soon in the DR but there is very data