Duarte province, and specifically its provincial capital, San Francisco de Macoris, has been named a model for extended efforts to combat the new coronavirus. Depending on the results in the province, the High Commission for the Prevention of Coronavirus could declare more extreme measures.
The province has the fourth largest number of cases and the most deaths per infected person. Public Health Minister Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas said during his briefing on Saturday, 28 March that it was the combination of the 2020 political campaign rallies and gatherings, the celebration of carnival in February, and private parties that triggered the spread of the disease. He said in the 28 March press conference that those factors had greater influence than the case of a Dominican woman who visited from Italy, tested positive, was ordered to self-isolate at home, and did not meet the protocols, spreading the disease.
The governor Luis Francisco Nunez Pantaleon, bishop Monsignor Fausto Mejia Vallejo, mayor Alex Diaz and mayor-elect Siquió Ng, the provincial public health director and others have tested positive with the disease.
San Francisco de Macoris is the first Dominican city to be militarized to ensure the fulfillment of the provincial lockdown and curfew, now from 5 pm to 6 am. The army has ordered to close off the city from every direction. Persons can no longer enter or leave the city.
The government also arranged for a new isolation center. A government housing complex is being used to isolate persons with mild symptoms or for persons who have been in contact with those who have tested positive and do not have conditions at home to self-isolate. The government says it has delivered food, mosquito nets to those that will be lodged in the complex. Public Health Minister Rafael Sánchez said that the apartments have been sanitized.
The Ministry of Public Works and Ministry of Public Health have been spraying public buildings and markets, as well as the houses of confirmed patients, with approved products in an attempt to avoid or at least delay further spreading of the disease.
As of Saturday, in the Duarte province there were 59 cases and 13 fatalities, according to Bulletin 10.
The Ministry of Public Health Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas says that all 75% of the fatalities are persons over 60 years of age.
Also related to San Francisco de Macorís, the government appointed General Jorge Mancebo Bautista as the new regional director for the National Police for Duarte province. He replaces General Albert Then. Hoy newspaper says it has received reports that General Then had symptoms of coronavirus and was ordered to self-isolate.
Public Health Minister Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas admitted that the San Francisco public hospital is under renovation and has not been sufficient to serve the population. He said that many cases that would have been treated in San Francisco cases have been relocated to Santiago. Thousands of persons who have needed medical attention have not been able to receive this.
A video with Mildred Sanchez, regional director for the Social Plan of the Presidency, has gone viral with her complaint that the government has not given the town the support it needs. Sanchez is running for deputy for the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) in the province.
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30 March 2020