Dr. Amado Alejandro Baez, executive director of the Presidential Committee for Covid-19 Response, addressed the nation on the evening of Thursday, 14 May 2020 from the Presidential Palace to urge people not let their guard down. He said much has been achieved with the effort and sacrifices of all, and this could be lost if safety measures are relaxed.
He said the Covid-19 handling numbers on behalf of the local authorities are “adequate, stable and on occasions good.” He referred to the lethality rate, new cases, and increases in testing. He said the use of health services, use of intensive care units all under 50% capacity, indicating stability in the number of cases.
“The collective effort of all is working. It would be dangerous and not responsible to not continue to do what is working. Dangerous because it will affect the health of Dominicans, lost lives. We have achieved a lot and the curve has been stabilized. In some places such as Duarte province the curve has reached a plateau,” he explained.
Dr. Báez says advances are such that the authorities have opened conversations for a new phase where opening of the economy is being evaluated. He said there needs to be time to discuss the new normal. “To maintain the measures allows us to hold healthy conversations about reactivation and return to work,” he urged.
“I want to call to solidarity, Dominican patriotism,” he stated in his address on Thursday evening. “Only with solidarity can we achieve that hope,” he said. He called for support to the measures that have led the country to what he understands is the stable management of the crisis.
On Thursday, small business representatives protested the extension of the National State of Emergency. Many say they plan on opening in a week while incorporating safety protocols for employees and clients. They criticize that big business has been allowed to operate, while they have been impeded to reopen.
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15 May 2020