Vice President Raquel Peña announced stricter measures to discourage social gathering for Christmas. “We know it is not easy to ask for new sacrifices, but the pandemic still has a few months to go before the vaccine arrives,” said the Vice President.
“The Dominican government is actively negotiating the delivery dates for the first batches,” she advanced, stressing at the same time that keeping the virus under control is up to all citizens and not just the government.
During the press conference at the Presidential Palace, Vice President Peña who heads the Health Cabinet in the Abinader administration, announced a new ban on alcoholic sales after 6pm any day. The measure is in Decree 698-20) that goes into effect on Tuesday, 15 December 2020 as the government takes steps to curtail an increase in persons infected by Covid-19 virus.
Vice President Peña announced new curfew hours for the National District, Santo Domingo province, Santiago, La Vega, Duarte and Puerto Plata Monday to Sunday 7pm to 5am. The government is giving two hours free transit until 9pm for people to get home. The change goes into effect as of Wednesday, 16 December. For other provinces, the curfew continues to be Monday to Friday from 9pm to 5am and on Saturday, Sunday and holidays, from 7pm to 5am.
For 24 December and 31 December, the government announced the curfew will be from 7pm to 5am and free transit until 1am on the morning of 25 December and 1 January.
Meetings are limited to groups of 10 people or less in public spaces and bars and restaurants are restricted to operating at 70% of their installed capacity.
The new measures will be in effect as long as they are needed, say the health authorities.
Others present for the announcement were:
Health Minister Plutarco Arias, the National Health Service director Mario Lama, the director of the Senasa health Santiago Hazim, the director of Promese/Cal Adolfo Pérez, medical advisor to the Ministry of Public Health Eddy Pérez Then, medical advisor to the Executive Branch Victor Atallah, Collective Health director Ivelisse Acosta and director of Planning at the Ministry of Public Health, Edward Guzman. Journalists were not allowed to ask questions.
The president of the Dominican Medical Association (CMD) said the government is sending contradictory signals to the population. He criticized the free transit until 1am allowed for 24 December and 31 December. He said this will result in the spread of Covid-19. He favored greater restrictions.
As of Covid-19 Bulletin #271, the statistics on the virus show a slight increase in the spread of cases.
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16 December 2020