Orlando Jorge Villegas, who is running for deputy for the National District for the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), called for the government to implement the program of free testing as proposed by PRM presidential candidate Luis Abinader. Abinader has said the PRM can bring 40,000 Covid rapid diagnostic tests and has not yet done so because a government permit is needed. These tests can show results in 45 minutes.
The government has authorized the Roche representative in the country, Oscar A. Renta Negrón, to import tests, in addition to those donated by the World Health Organization (Berlin protocol tests).
Jorge Villegas is the grandson of former President Salvador Jorge Blanco and son of Orlando Jorge Mera, PRM delegate to the Central Electoral Board (JCE). Jorge Villegas said on his Instagram account that the rapid diagnostic test was implemented in Germany, where today the percentage of deaths of lower than in many other European countries. He said this would work for the Dominicans. While Germany has had 20,705 people test positive, there are only 72 deaths. He stressed early diagnostics is one of the better ways to steam the fearful disease.
He said the test enables identifying where there are clusters of the outbreak to isolate those who could infect others.
In the Dominican Republic there is still a waiting list to get testing, even at private labs where the cost is RD$4,300. While President Danilo Medina had announced the health provider insurance companies would be covering the test, this has yet to happen. In a speech on 25 March, Medina announced that the private labs would carry out the test for free for persons 59+ or those with special conditions.
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Hoy
26 March 2020