There are 901 reported cases of Covid-19 in the Dominican Republic as of 6pm on 29 March 2020. Of these, 136 are hospitalized, 719 in home care, four have tested negative and 42 have died, for a 5% fatality rate. Covid-19 diagnostic tests are still very limited in the Dominican Republic. Since the first case was detected on 1 March 2020 only 2,595 persons have been tested, with 2,055 testing negative. This breaks down to around 100 tests per day.
Bulletin 11 reports an increase of 42 cases. Provinces where new cases are reported are: National District, Santo Domingo province, Duarte (San Francisco de Macorís), La Altagracia (Higuey, Veron, Punta Cana), La Romana, San Pedro de Macoris, Sánchez Ramírez (Cotuí), San Juan de la Maguana, Azua and Pedernales.
By place of residence, most of the cases are in the National District (42%) and the province of Santo Domingo (12%) that make up Greater Santo Domingo. Also in Santiago (11%) and Duarte (10%). Regarding the deaths, 52% (22/42) are in the province of Duarte (San Francisco de Macorís) for a death rate of 24%.
The breakdown of cases in the National District and the 31 provinces is:
National District: 381 cases, 5 new cases, 5 deaths, 1% mortality
Santo Domingo Province: 106 cases, 5 new cases, 5 deaths, 5% mortality
Santiago: 97 cases, no new cases, 2 deaths, 2% mortality
Duarte (San Francisco de Macorís): 90 cases, 7 new cases, 22 deaths, 24% mortality
La Vega: 48 cases, no new cases, 1 death, 2% mortality
La Altagracia (Higuey, Veron, Punta Cana): 21 cases, 8 new cases, 0% mortality
La Romana: 21 cases, 6 new cases, 0% mortality
San Pedro de Macorís: 17 cases, 1 new case, 2 deaths, 12% mortality
Puerto Plata: 16 cases, 0% mortality
Espaillat (Moca): 15 cases, 0% mortality
Hermanas Mirabal: 10 cases, 0% morality
San Cristóbal: 9 cases, 0% mortality
Samaná: 9 cases, 1 death, 11% mortality
Sánchez Ramírez (Cotuí): 7 cases, 2 new cases, 22% mortality
María Trinidad Sánchez (Salcedo): 4 cases, 0% mortality
Monseñor Nouel (Bonao): 11 cases, 1 death, 9% mortality
Hato Mayor: 2 cases, 0% mortality
San Juan de la Maguana: 5 cases, 2 new cases, 1 death, 20% mortality
Barahona: 3 cases, 1 new case, 0% mortality
Monte Plata: 1 case
Azua: 7 cases, 1 new case, 0% mortality
Independencia: 1 case, 0% mortality
Valverde: 2 cases, 0% mortality
Pedernales: 1 new case
Provinces with no reported cases of COVID-19:
Bahoruco, Dajabón, Elías Piña, El Seibo, and San José de Ocoa.
The first case of Covid-19 was detected on 1 March 2020, just two weeks before a municipal election was scheduled. On 20 March the government declared a State of Emergency and enacted a curfew and the closing of land, sea and airports.
The Ministry of Public Health continues to urge people stay at home, keep social distance, maximum hygiene, do not touch faces, and exercise self-isolation when having symptoms or having been in contact with persons who have tested positive or have symptoms.
Public Health Minister Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas says the most cases are located in the National District in the Km-Independencia area, and middle class neighorhoods in the urban center. He said Santiago cases are attributed to the large number of physicians who caught the disease on board the Costa Favolosa cruise ship and returned without symptoms to spread the disease.
Read more in Spanish:
Ministry of Public Health bulletins
Presidency
Hoy
31 March 2020