The Senate is convened for a Sunday, 19 July session to give its vote for a declaration of the National State of Emergency in the Dominican Republic. The Presidency says the measure was already discussed with the transition team for the next government.
The request is scheduled to be first heard by the Chamber of Deputies on Friday, 17 July. It would then pass to the Senate on Sunday. President Danilo Medina has requested imposing a 45-day National State of Emergency, extending into the first days of the Luis Abinader administration that starts 16 August 2020.
Gustavo Montalvo, coordinator of the High Commission for the Prevention of Coronavirus, says the declaration will enable the government to again enforce curfew.
The spread of the disease is attributed to people’s gatherings after the opening of the economy. The agglomerations worsened during the final weeks of the presidential and congressional campaign. The effects of the intense campaigning can be seen in the increases in confirmed cases nationwide.
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N Digital
17 July 2020