The crucial number that measures Covid-19 spread in a country has dropped to around half the global average. In the Dominican Republic the R number is 1.2 to 1.4, compared to global standard of 2.5, says Economy Minister Juan Ariel Jiménez. The R number measures the number of people that one infected person is likely to pass the virus on to, on average. It is calculated using the number of people dying, admitted to hospitals or testing positive and allows experts to estimate how easily the virus is spreading.
In an interview with Nuria Piera on Channel 9 on Saturday, 23 May 2020, Jimenez explained the plateauing of the R number was one of the main reasons the High Commission for Prevention of Coronavirus in the Dominican Republic ordered on 20 May 2020 the start of phases to reopen the economy. He explained health considerations prevailed before economic reasons for the decision.
He said the decline in the R number is evidence “the curve has plateaued.” He said that if the strict measures of social distancing had not been implemented, the number of cases would have peaked in May, and now the peak has moved to next year.
He claimed that health considerations prevailed in the easing of restrictions. “To have people at work frees them from catching diseases at home,” he explained. He mentioned the poverty conditions that affect many households. “For many people staying at home increased their risk of catching dengue, so it was not the best strategy for them to shelter at home, “he said.
Furthermore, he said that the long lockdown has clearly had a negative effect on people’s income and their livelihood. He said it has even affected their ability to purchase medicines for medical conditions outside of Covid-19, another health consideration.
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Nuria Piera
25 May 2020