Coronavirus - In the DR

[pmcd]

Masks of almost any type helping to reduce the spread of an airborne pathogen certainly makes sense.

Covid 19 is here, there and everywhere to stay since wearing masks is not going to eliminate Covid 19.

It’s possible that a mask might reduce the amount of virus, though a virus is really small so who knows. In any case having a virus is not the same as having an illness due to that virus. The body apparently has a lot of viruses, some scary, at any given time.This virus has provoked an almost worldwide response that is really strange. There have been so many weird official reactions to what many say is not a serious pandemic. The number of deaths matters more then the number of positive pcr tests. The DR, for a variety of reasons, has a far lower lethality rate than say Canada. The notion of early treatment here doesn’t even cross the government’s thinking. HCQ has been demonized and I would imagine Ivermectin will be next, should it come to their attention. From my biased perspective, the people in charge of the governments’ response ( in Canada) should mostly resign.

Flu season is coming and it’s going to be chaotic up here. Everyone thinks a quick vaccine will solve things. I hopeful it does, but I highly doubt it. They have created a monster out of something that wasn’t. God help us if a really bad epidemic were to hit.

Can you get Ivermectin and doxycycline without a prescription in the DR? What about HCQ?

As far as masks go, how long are people supposed to wear them? That is, is there a threshold of cases below which the government will stop issuing orders?
The Canadian lethality rate is about 9000/140000. So 9 out of 140. About 6%. The DR is 2000/100000. Or 2%. So, if you test positive in Canada the chances of passing are 3 times higher. These are rough estimates and you’d have to adjust them for differences in the age distribution and other differences. It’s all very strange.

I guess the number that really matters is what’s called excess deaths. People die all the time. Are the numbers much higher these days?

 

[Ecoman1949]

It’s possible that a mask might reduce the amount of virus, though a virus is really small so who knows. In any case having a virus is not the same as having an illness due to that virus. The body apparently has a lot of viruses, some scary, at any given time.This virus has provoked an almost worldwide response that is really strange. There have been so many weird official reactions to what many say is not a serious pandemic. The number of deaths matters more then the number of positive pcr tests. The DR, for a variety of reasons, has a far lower lethality rate than say Canada. The notion of early treatment here doesn’t even cross the government’s thinking. HCQ has been demonized and I would imagine Ivermectin will be next, should it come to their attention. From my biased perspective, the people in charge of the governments’ response ( in Canada) should mostly resign.

Flu season is coming and it’s going to be chaotic up here. Everyone thinks a quick vaccine will solve things. I hopeful it does, but I highly doubt it. They have created a monster out of something that wasn’t. God help us if a really bad epidemic were to hit.

Can you get Ivermectin and doxycycline without a prescription in the DR? What about HCQ?

As far as masks go, how long are people supposed to wear them? That is, is there a threshold of cases below which the government will stop issuing orders?
The Canadian lethality rate is about 9000/140000. So 9 out of 140. About 6%. The DR is 2000/100000. Or 2%. So, if you test positive in Canada the chances of passing are 3 times higher. These are rough estimates and you’d have to adjust them for differences in the age distribution and other differences. It’s all very strange.

I guess the number that really matters is what’s called excess deaths. People die all the time. Are the numbers much higher these days?

I wouldn’t put too much faith in the DR Covid-19 death numbers for many reasons. The former government numbers weren’t correct and the new government has come up with their own new interpretation of the number of infections and deaths. Testing in the DR is not on the same scale as testing in Canada nor is it as strict. The DR government testing is sporadic and in some cases, non existent. The latest example of that is the elimination of testing for tourists arriving at airports. Many of the poor people who live in the campo never get tested and die without going to hospital. How many die of natural causes versus COVID-19? No one knows.

 

[william webster]

I think the DR population has better immunity than the Cdn.

Sanitation is here is much less frequent..... immune systems in children build fast.

1st world countries have hand wipes etc they use with babies..... germ free babies
Babies need small doses of germs to train/grow the immune system.
RD is as clean as they be ..... but it's at a different level

Look at all the stomach issues to plague a visitor vs a native born Dominican

Just my guess....
but we do know that Chrone's Disease is now more prevalent at younger ages
indicating poor immune protection

 

[pmcd]

I wouldn’t put too much faith in the DR Covid-19 death numbers for many reasons. The former government numbers weren’t correct and the new government has come up with their own new interpretation of the number of infections and deaths. Testing in the DR is not on the same scale as testing in Canada nor is it as strict. The DR government testing is sporadic and in some cases, non existent. The latest example of that is the elimination of testing for tourists arriving at airports. Many of the poor people who live in the campo never get tested and die without going to hospital. How many die of natural causes versus COVID-19? No one knows.

If you don’t have accurate information then you can’t say much. This is true all over the place. Interesting numbers are excess deaths. When you look at those virtually all governments look pretty bad. As far as trusting Canadian data, I’d like to know the incidence of false negatives and false positives. Can’t get it. If one removes the disastrous nursing home fiasco in Canada you get a very different picture. Same with Sweden and many other countries. The thing about Canada and other countries that have money to spend on health care is that they seem to have forgotten about treating patients early. All of a sudden everyone wants randomized controlled studies before doing anything. It’s misguided and cruel. I see no reason why we should be paying these people inflated salaries for the type of advice they have been giving. It’s virtually a ship of fools. Countries that do have reliable data have a far lower lethality rate. Greece is one example. Marseille in France is another. Our experts can’t keep ignoring them.

Anyway, it seems like the DR has done better. At least you have the option of Ivermectin or HCQ early treatment. It doesn’t seem that access to fancy ventilators, remdesivir, etc... makes much of a difference. Might in fact be a blessing in disguise.

Getting back to the DR. Does anyone know if you can get Ivermectin, antibiotics and HCQ over the counter, or are these strictly controlled?

 

[XTraveller]

If you don’t have accurate information then you can’t say much. This is true all over the place. Interesting numbers are excess deaths. When you look at those virtually all governments look pretty bad. As far as trusting Canadian data, I’d like to know the incidence of false negatives and false positives. Can’t get it. If one removes the disastrous nursing home fiasco in Canada you get a very different picture. Same with Sweden and many other countries. The thing about Canada and other countries that have money to spend on health care is that they seem to have forgotten about treating patients early. All of a sudden everyone wants randomized controlled studies before doing anything. It’s misguided and cruel. I see no reason why we should be paying these people inflated salaries for the type of advice they have been giving. It’s virtually a ship of fools. Countries that do have reliable data have a far lower lethality rate. Greece is one example. Marseille in France is another. Our experts can’t keep ignoring them.

Anyway, it seems like the DR has done better. At least you have the option of Ivermectin or HCQ early treatment. It doesn’t seem that access to fancy ventilators, remdesivir, etc... makes much of a difference. Might in fact be a blessing in disguise.

Getting back to the DR. Does anyone know if you can get Ivermectin, antibiotics and HCQ over the counter, or are these strictly controlled?

I do not know about HCQ but invermectin, azithromycin (antibiotic) and Dexona all sold over the counter. I read in another thread that there is a clinic in La Romana (Dr. Juan Manuel Canella medical center) has been very successful with this treatment. Also interesting this Doctor has modified a CPAP machine to give oxygen rather that incubation. NO PERSONAL EXPERIENCE BUT IF I FALL SICK I THINK I GOING THERE. Also clinic Bournigal in Puerto Plata similar.

 

[etolw]

The World Health Organization announced on Monday that 156 countries have entered into vaccine cooperation. The collaboration is called Covax and consists of 35 high-income countries that pay for 92 low-income countries to also get the vaccine when it is ready.

Covax aims to develop at least three safe and effective vaccines.

Rich countries will pay for the vaccine themselves, and poor countries will get it funded by foundations and the same wealthy countries.

DR has still not signed up to the program, but is on the list of countries that intend to.

USA, China and Russia are not participating.

https://www.gavi.org/sites/default/files/covid/pr/COVAX_CA_COIP_List_COVAX_PR_V5.pdf

 

[Caonabo]

If you don’t have accurate information then you can’t say much. This is true all over the place. Interesting numbers are excess deaths. When you look at those virtually all governments look pretty bad. As far as trusting Canadian data, I’d like to know the incidence of false negatives and false positives. Can’t get it. If one removes the disastrous nursing home fiasco in Canada you get a very different picture. Same with Sweden and many other countries. The thing about Canada and other countries that have money to spend on health care is that they seem to have forgotten about treating patients early. All of a sudden everyone wants randomized controlled studies before doing anything. It’s misguided and cruel. I see no reason why we should be paying these people inflated salaries for the type of advice they have been giving. It’s virtually a ship of fools. Countries that do have reliable data have a far lower lethality rate. Greece is one example. Marseille in France is another. Our experts can’t keep ignoring them.

Anyway, it seems like the DR has done better. At least you have the option of Ivermectin or HCQ early treatment. It doesn’t seem that access to fancy ventilators, remdesivir, etc... makes much of a difference. Might in fact be a blessing in disguise.

Getting back to the DR. Does anyone know if you can get Ivermectin, antibiotics and HCQ over the counter, or are these strictly controlled?

As mentioned above by poster XTraveller, yes these items can be purchased "over the counter" from any pharmacy without a doctor's prescription, BUT at the same time, you will be paying FULL COST for them.
If you do not have an RD health insurance policy, no troubles, as you would be paying full cost regardless. Purchase and go.
The conflict would occur if you DO indeed have an RD health insurance policy, which possesses a medication rider which you prefer to use, and you do not have a doctor's prescription.
For insurance policy coverage, and related billing, a doctor's prescription must accompany your coverage card for the proper discount offered by your respective insurance company.
As an example, using a medication (non-Covid related) I was recently personally prescribed.........
Medication cost, "over the counter" without a prescription.....8,000 pesos.
Medication cost with doctor's prescription, along with proper insurance coverage.....1600/1200/800/400 pesos depending on level of coverage with your rider.

 

[william webster]

That was my point
Everybody's immune system is different

Mine was super strong during my Immunotherapy session... and was for months after

There is a criticism of the 1st world that it is so clean, babies are not developing strong enough immune responses
As in My Chrone's analogy

The cleanliness here (and other 3rd/2.5 world countries) is not as prevalent
As I pointed out - stomach issues for visitors

You know something is bad when you're Dominican friends warn you of it....
Careful there.... estomago....

The responses to CV19 vary w/ the strength of the dose and the individual's own immune system
It seems to be 'Dose dependent' to a large degree - from what I read

 

[etolw]

Victory awaits him who has everything in order — luck, people call it. Defeat is certain for him who has neglected to take the necessary precautions in time; this is called bad luck.

I still believe DR is doing relatively well handling the virus situation compared to many other countries.

 

[william webster]

My Cdn friend sent me this - a Reuters report

Study suggests dengue may provide some immunity against COVID-19

RIO DE JANEIRO — A new study that analyzed the coronavirus outbreak in Brazil has found a link between the spread of the virus and past outbreaks of dengue fever th…

windsorstar.com

 

[Chirimoya]

I still believe DR is doing relatively well handling the virus situation compared to many other countries.

I agree it could be far worse. Could a reasonable rate of mask-wearing from very early on have anything to do with this? Dominicans aren't that great at maintaining the recommended distancing but everyone wears a mask in public enclosed spaces - although some do wear them incorrectly.

 

[etolw]

I agree it could be far worse. Could a reasonable rate of mask-wearing from very early on have anything to do with this? Dominicans aren't that great at maintaining the recommended distancing but everyone wears a mask in public enclosed spaces - although some do wear them incorrectly.

That could be true. Many countries that did not advocate mask bearing early on, now starts promoting it in crowded places.
E.g my home country Norway has until now not recommended mask wearing, and few people did. They argumented that with the low infection rates the disadvantages outweighted the advantages.

Now lately some parts of the country like the capital has outbreaks because people had become lax in social distancing.
Now the advice for areas with high infection rates strongly suggest wearing masks if social distance of 1.5m can not be achieved, like on public transport.

There is also interesting research regarding immune defense response , why some get very sick and others not.

 

[windeguy]

That could be true. Many countries that did not advocate mask bearing early on, now starts promoting it in crowded places.
E.g my home country Norway has until now not recommended mask wearing, and few people did. They argumented that with the low infection rates the disadvantages outweighted the advantages.

Now lately some parts of the country like the capital has outbreaks because people had become lax in social distancing.
Now the advice for areas with high infection rates strongly suggest wearing masks if social distance of 1.5m can not be achieved, like on public transport.

There is also interesting research regarding immune defense response , why some get very sick and others not.

How about Sweden right next door? How are they doing now with almost no mask usage and not shutting down, no curfews?

 

[etolw]

How about Sweden right next door? How are they doing now with almost no mask usage and not shutting down, no curfews?

They have reduced the infection level to about the same level as Norway currently has, but with very much higher deaths/population.

They do sell a lot of masks in Sweden as well, I believe

People rush to buy mouth guards, companies face their own demands, and pharmacies prepare sales of advanced face masks. Civil society disguises itself, no matter what the authorities say.

Source https://www.svd.se/rusning-aven-i-sverige--intresset-exploderade

 

[Cdn_Gringo]

The consistency with which you wear a mask, how you wear it and what type of mask it is, all determine how effective it can be in keeping you from spreading the virus or breathing the virus in that has been expelled by someone else. Not all masks and wearing practices are equal. Stop touching your mask with your hands. If you constantly need to adjust it it doesn't fit properly or you are not wearing it correctly. If you do touch your mask apply some hand sanitizer right away if you can't immediately wash your hands very well with lots of soap and hot water.

A mask dangling below your chin is just proving an easy access path for any virus on the mask to your mouth and nose. If you are not going to wear it properly, at least take it off and keep it away from your face. You need several masks so that you can allow each one time to dry out completely and any virus on the mask to die off over time before you reuse that same mask again. If your mask smells unpleasant or is always damp, you need a new mask.

 

[Caonabo]

Victory awaits him who has everything in order — luck, people call it. Defeat is certain for him who has neglected to take the necessary precautions in time; this is called bad luck.

I still believe DR is doing relatively well handling the virus situation compared to many other countries.

Who is, Roald Amundsen.
I'll take Explorers for $200.

 

[windeguy]

Santo Domingo, RD
The Minister of Public Health, Plutarco Arias, announced on Tuesday that the provision of the curfew will be extended but that the hours will be relaxed once the new extension takes effect.
From next Monday, the curfew will be from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. and on weekends from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Arias explained that the decision was made to increase the government provision by two hours is due to the fact that a decrease in positive cases of coronavirus (Covid-19) has been observed in the country.
Despite not specifying how far the extension would go, the Minister of Health specified that the downward trend will depend on citizen behavior from now on and that if a regrowth arises, it will "go back".
The announcement was made during a joint press conference, the director of the National Health Service (SNS) and in turn called for the maintenance of social distancing measures and the use of masks on a mandatory basi

 

[windeguy]

Since CV19 is here there and everywhere to stay, the curfew must remain.

 

[Dolores]

Read more on the press conference here:

Government to reduce curfew hours on 27 September

dr1.com

 

[pmcd]

When the government says curfew, what do they mean? Do you have to remain inside, or can you sit outside on a balcony, your yard, etc...?