The Civil Defense prohibited liquor companies from installing alcoholic beverage sales booths in resort areas as well as on main highways and roads. The Red Cross has enlisted 3,000 volunteers to staff the 95 aide stations throughout the country. The measures are part of preventive measures to reduce accidents during the upcoming Thursday-Sunday Easter long weekend, the peak for domestic travel. Highways are congestioned because Dominicans take advantage of the weekend, the only one in the year when shops close down, to travel to their home towns and others to visit the vacation spots. The Civil Defense also announced that it has banned bathers from the beaches of Los Gringos, Linda, Manresa, Güibia, La Playita de Hato Nuevo in the Distrito Nacional; Villas del Mar, La del Muerto, Marota, Playa Hawaii in San Pedro de Macorís; Plaza Poza del Castillo on the Malecon of Puerto Plata, El Canal in La Bombita in Sosua, La Hilera in Cabarete, Playa del Canal, La Bonita and La Hilera in Puerto Plata. In Azua, Playa Cambey and Las Charcas were closed. In Barahona, bathers should stay away from Los Patos, Saladilla, Acapulco, Palito Seco and San Rafael. In San Cristóbal, San José beach is off limits. In the mountain area of La Vega (Jarabacoa), travelers are banned from La Confluencia, de la Poza, Baiguate, Salto de Jimenoa, Presa de Hatillo, El Vivero, and Trifurcación. Other areas off limits in the East are El Palo de la Garza, El Badén, Río Colorado, Boca Catalina and Tres Aguas.
