President Danilo Medina is requesting the fifth extension of the National State of Emergency. The request for the extension was sent to the Senate on Monday, 8 June 2020. The National State of Emergency is due to expire on Sunday, 14 June 2020. During the 8 June coronavirus press briefing, Public Health Minister Rafael Sánchez Cardenas advocated for the extension of the state of emergency, arguing that the curfew needs to continue to keep the virus under control. In the Dominican Republic, curfew is from 7pm to 5am.
The President requested extending the National State of Emergency for 17 days starting on 14 June 2020. The Senate convened a session to discuss the extension on Tuesday. The motion is expected to pass in the Senate where the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) is majority.
The resumption of most economic activities on 20 May 2020 has resulted in a slight increase in cases, but the total of deaths continues well under control. The number of persons that are in hospital care continues around a third of total hospital capacity. And the number of PCR tests to confirm the disease has been kept constant at around 2,000 in the past 14 days. Likewise, the lethality rate in the Dominican Republic and the positivity rate have consistently been declining. The average number of deaths for the past 14 days is under six.
Presidential and congressional elections are scheduled for 5 July 2020. The opposition says that the government party is using the National State of Emergency to its advantage. The Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) has presented evidence of Gonzalo Castillo campaigning during curfew hours, and government officers taking advantage of their positions to promote the official candidate.
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Listin Diario
Esta Noche con Mariasela
Esta Noche con Mariasela
Esta Noche con Mariasela
9 June 2020