The Public Health Minister, Dr. Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas, denied that the DR’s health system is overwhelmed. He said the statistics show that there are 588 people hospitalized and 121 patients in intensive care units nationwide that may require ventilators. He said this indicates the demand is being met because there is a national capacity of 500 intensive care units, so demand is below the supply. He said the government is working to increase capacity to 700-800 intensive care units.
He spoke proudly about how the number of patients in intensive care units has been steadily declining in the past week. He said the patients in ICU have dropped from 155 (12 April), 143 (13 April), 128 (14 April) to 121 (15 April) patients. He said there are around 558 persons hospitalized, as covered in the Coronavirus Bulletin #28 dated 15 April 2020. “We expect that the trend for a decline in serious cases will continue,” said the minister.
He said what is important is that more people do not get sick. He said this is why the government is now making it obligatory for people to wear masks when in public places.
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Press Conference Dr. Sánchez Cárdenas
17 April 2020