Politics has prevailed and Dominicans have been left up to themselves to decide how much risk they want to take. The Ministry of Public Health is no longer applying controls, despite declaring a Pandemic State. Resolution 0018 to the effect has not been shared online.
A statement from the Ministry of Public Health on its website reads social, economic and recreational activities are banned after 8pm. In practice, there are now practically no limitations to nightlife in the final days leading to the 5 July presidential and congressional elections.
Public Health Minister Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas in the Thursday, 2 July press briefing, confirmed the government is not restricting restaurant opening hours, “for the time being.” He urged patrons keep 1.5 meter distances and said restaurants need to meet new guidelines for operation. He said the idea is that colmados and restaurants close at 9 or 10pm, but said this is a “suggestion.”
Campaign photos show President Danilo Medina campaigning without a mask when he should be setting the example. PLD presidential candidate Gonzalo Castillo has also been seen campaigning without a mask. The PLD has intensified its campaign activities nationwide, encouraging large gatherings of people in violation with Covid-19 guidelines.
For Bulletin #105, with data from 1 July, there was a record 383 new confirmed cases in the National District and 170 in Santo Domingo province, for upwards of 500 cases in Greater Santo Domingo for the first time.
The government has increased testing by 50%. Hospitalization numbers are gradually increasing, albeit at a stable pace as more people test positive. The increase in testing is felt nationwide. For Bulletin #105, only six provinces had one or less cases reported.
The numbers reflect the increase in PCR, but also the peak in political campaigning, coupled with an almost total reopening of the economy. In addition to the increase in Greater Santo Domingo cases, recently there have been outbreaks in provinces that had few cases. Dajabón, Barahona, Baoruco, Independencia, Valverde, San Pedro de Macoris, San José de Ocoa are seeing increases in cases.
The numbers of confirmed cases in the beach destinations are:
La Altagracia 837, La Romana 835, Puerto Plata 528, San Pedro de Macoris 311 and Samaná 72.
Public Health Minister announced the press briefings are suspended until after the elections. In recent press briefings, press has asked about the widespread violations of the health guidelines.
Dr. Ivelisse Acosta, who is the president of the Dominican Neumology Society, criticized the public health authorities’ lack of leadership. She said they are improvising, as reported in Acento.
“We are facing the consequences of a health system without leadership, which is fragmented, which improvises, and which is not capable of articulating a moderately effective response,” she said.
“That there would be, with the opening, an increase in the number of cases, was a real and expected possibility, hence it was mandatory that there be a strong and well-articulated strategy to, among other actions, perform many tests, detect early, follow up on the contacts, isolate individuals and isolate large areas,” she said. She criticized there has not been strengthening and expanding of the response of the hospital service. On the contrary, she says conditions at hospitals have been deteriorating due to lack of equipment and supplies.
Read more in Spanish:
Ministry of Public Health press briefing Bulletin #105
Acento
Hoy
Listin Diario
3 July 2020