Gobierno anuncia entrada a fase 2 desescalada a partir de mañana; tasa de contagio se ha aplanado y letalidad es una de las más bajas
El Gobierno ha decidido continuar con la estrategia de desescalada “Convivir con el COVID-19 de forma segura”, entrando mañana a la etapa 2, debido a que la tasa de contagio se ha aplanado y la letalidad están relativamente bajas. El anuncio fue hecho hoy por el ministro de la Presidencia...
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Government announces entry to phase 2 de-escalation starting tomorrow; contagion rate has flattened and lethality is one of the lowest
The Government has decided to continue with the de-escalation strategy "Living together with COVID-19 safely", entering stage 2 tomorrow, because the contagion rate has flattened and lethality are relatively low.
The announcement was made today by the Minister of the Presidency, Gustavo Montalvo, as coordinator of the High-Level Commission for the Prevention and Control of Coronavirus (COVID-19), who stressed that the collective sacrifice of recent months has it was worth it.
Authorized companies and number of workers
“In this new phase, micro-companies with between 1 and 10 employees will be able to work with all of their collaborators. For their part, small companies, with between 11 and 50 employees, will be able to incorporate 75% of their workers, while medium and large companies will be able to work with 50% of the staff. ”
He pointed out that the aforementioned percentages apply to sectors that previously did not have permission to work, since from the beginning an operation of agriculture, manufacturing industry, free zones, mining, essential trade, health, with a prudent number of workers was allowed.
"We remember that now the stores of the shopping malls will be able to remain open, but the food, games and recreation establishments will remain closed in order to avoid crowds."
Intercity transport buses and minibuses
In this context, he informed that the buses and minibuses of the interurban transport will be able to start their operations from tomorrow, using a maximum of 60% of the seats, always with distance between the passengers and following the corresponding protocols.
Movement of essential workers during curfew
Regarding the circulation permits for people during curfew hours, he clarified that "this exception only applies to employees of companies whose purpose is to work 24 hours, or that their night work is absolutely necessary."
The coordinator of the High Level Commission reiterated that the transport of cargo, goods and fuel can transit without the need to carry a permit.
He urged workers who need to apply for a permit to do so through their company on the coronavirusrd.gob.do page .
Churches will open with few people and only on Sundays
Another novelty of the second stage announced by the Minister of the Presidency was the authorization to the churches to open their doors, only on Sundays, with a reduced percentage of people.
“Always with a minimum of 2 meters of distance between each person, and following the protocols that will be published. In the case of Adventist churches and others that celebrate their services on Saturdays, they are allowed to start, with one religious service per week.
Result of measures adopted and patience of families
Minister Montalvo explained that the decision is the result of the measures adopted during the state of emergency and the patience and discipline of the Dominican families.
He stressed that, after 3 months of the first case in the country, the Dominican Republic is the second country in Latin America that has slowed the growth rate of the number of infected most.
"We have reduced the rate of natural transmission of the virus to more than half," he said, explaining that it is estimated that each infected person infects 2.5 more people, while in our country this basic number of reproduction is around 1.2.
Healthcare system
He estimated that, as of today, only 20% of the total available beds are being used.
"In the public network we have 2,595 beds available for COVID-19 patients and more than 430 in the private network. In the isolation centers we also have a capacity for 4,011 more people, if their use is necessary."
Similarly, he said that the country has more than 150 beds in intensive care units (ICUs) with ventilators available.
"Still, we are continuing to work intensively to increase the number and dozens of new fans will be installed in the coming weeks."
Regarding the management of positive cases of COVID 19, he pointed out that the case fatality rate is now 2.86%, one of the lowest in the region.
"Obviously, our desire is that no one should die, but we know that the global death rate is around 6%. Even high-income countries show case fatality rates much higher than the Dominican one. ”
It is not a time to relax, but to live responsibly with the COVID-19
He urged the population to maintain social and physical distancing measures, “because the virus has not disappeared. This is not the time to relax, it is the time to live responsibly with the COVID-19 ”.
“International experience already shows us the consequences that this can bring. Many countries have been forced to reverse the opening measures due to spikes in contagion ”.
Phase 3 would start next June 17 and stage 4, in July
He announced that phase 3 would start on June 17. At this stage, churches will be able to worship three times a week. And it will be until the fourth phase, which would begin in July, when airports, restaurants, gyms and other activities where a large number of people can gather will be reactivated.