The Ministry of Public Health reports there are now 1,284 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Dominican Republic as of 31 March 2020 at 6pm, according to Coronavirus Bulletin #13. The number of cases is 175 more than the previous 1,109. Of these, 147 persons are hospitalized and another 1,071 are monitored while in self-isolation or in isolation shelters. There are 57 deaths now, up from 51 the previous day.
The concentration of cases by place of residence is 40% in the National District, 13% in the province of Santo Domingo, 11% in Santiago, and 8% in Duarte province.
Provinces with the most new cases are: National District (58), Santo Domingo province (23), La Vega (19), Santiago (16), Monseñor Nouel / Bonao (8), Duarte / San Francisco de Macorís (7), San Cristóbal (6), and Espaillat / Moca (6). Public Health Minister Dr. Sánchez Cárdenas says that in most of these cases epidemiologists have verified that the congregation of people led to the spread of the disease.
The Ministry of Public Health reports the results of 3,702 tests as compiled by the National Epidemiology Surveillance System (SINAVE). Of the tests given, 2,418 were negative. Testing is still very limited in the country, with long waiting lists even in the cases of persons with apparent symptoms.
According to Bulletin #13 of the Ministry’s Epidemiology Directorate-General, the evolution of the health crisis nationwide is:
National District: 520 cases, 58 new cases, 11 deaths, including 2 new deaths
Santo Domingo province: 168 cases, 23 new cases, 6 deaths, including 1 new death
Santiago: 138 cases, 16 new cases, 2 deaths
Duarte (San Francisco de Macorís): 101 cases, 7 new cases, 23 deaths
La Vega: 84 cases, 19 new cases, 2 deaths
La Altagracia (Higuey, Veron, Punta Cana): 32 cases, 3 new cases
Puerto Plata: 28 cases
Espaillat (Moca): 28 cases, 6 new cases
Monseñor Nouel (Bonao): 27 cases, 8 new cases, 1 death
La Romana: 24 cases, 3 new cases
San Cristóbal: 21 cases, 8 new cases
San Pedro de Macorís: 20 cases, 2 new cases
Hermanas Mirabal: 15 cases, 4 new case
Samaná: 13 cases, 1 death, 1 new case
Sánchez Ramírez (Cotuí): 13 cases, 3 new cases, 2 deaths
Azua: 7 cases
Valverde: 8 cases, 4 new cases
San Juan de la Maguana: 7 cases, 2 new cases, 2 deaths
Barahona: 7 cases, 4 new cases
María Trinidad Sánchez (Salcedo): 6 cases, 1 death
Hato Mayor: 3 cases
Monte Plata: 2 cases
Dajabón: 1 new case
Independencia: 1 case
Pedernales: 1 case
El Seibo: 1 new case
Provinces with no reported cases of Covid-19 as of 31 March 2020 at 6pm:
Bahoruco, Elías Piña, 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 and after a month of intense carnival partying. On 20 March the government declared a State of Emergency until 3 April 2020. The country is under a curfew and land crossings, seaports and airports are closed through 13 April. That same day is the expiration on the order of suspension of all educational activities.
Dr. Jorge Marte, the physician on the High Commission for the Prevention of Coronavirus says that the country has not yet experienced the peak in cases, thus the special conditions and restriction measures are likely to be renewed.
Public Health Minister Sánchez Cárdenas says he backs continuing the State of Emergency and curfew measures to control the disease. “We recommend the continuation of the stay at home and curfew. These are essential to ensure the maintenance of social isolation,” said the minister.
31 May is the expiration date for the two-month assistance programs announced for Dominicans for food relief and welfare assistance.
The Ministry of Public Health continues to urge people to stay at home, keep social distance, exercise maximum hygiene, to not touch faces, and exercise self-isolation when having symptoms or having been in contact with persons who have tested positive or have symptoms. Supermarkets, pharmacies and banks are requiring that persons use facial masks to enter.
Public Health Minister, Dr. Sánchez Cárdenas has explained that people who present Covid-19 symptoms (fever, dry cough, shortness of breath) should contact their physician. He says in most cases these patients are stable and don’t need testing or treatment, and are recommended to stay at home until their fever resolves, they stop coughing, and are asymptomatic. Most importantly, he stresses these people need to self-isolate to not spread the disease to family and friends.
Follow the story in Spanish:
Ministry of Public Health
YouTube — MSP briefing Bulletin No. 13
Listin Diario
Diario Libre
2 April 2020