The Ministry of Public Health’s Epidemiology Department Coronavirus Bulletin #327 reports 419 new PCR cases for the Monday, 8 February 2021 deadline. The Monday bulletin is usually well below average as it reflects the lull in testing over the weekend. The cases compare to the 7-day nationwide average for PCR confirmed cases that is 1,232.
The number of PCR-confirmed cases is at 224,538 for the 8 February bulletin. Labs carried out 2,186 first PCR tests. The number of tests compares with the 14-day average that is 6,914. The average has increased after countries abroad are requesting a PCR test for return travel. The country can process 14,000 PCR tests a day. Overall, the demand for tests is up. The government says sufficient PCR tests are available.
Private labs have special facilities for those requiring results in time for travel abroad. Results of PCR tests can be had in 24 hours for those presenting a valid airline ticket at Referencia Lab branches in Santo Domingo, Santiago, Puerto Plata, La Romana and Punta Cana. Antigen tests results can be had in three hours at Referencia and Amadita labs in the same locations. Nevertheless, travelers are recommended to make arrangements with extra time.
Canada and Spain are requiring all entering that country to show negative results of a PCR test carried out within 72 hours before the traveler’s scheduled departure to those countries. The US requires travelers show negative antigen or PCR test results taken within 72 hours of the arrival to US territory.
The 4-week positivity rate is 17.58%, continuing on a downward trend after the rise in cases following the Christmas holidays. The 24-hour positivity for the day is 14.03%, down from the previous day. The good news is that the number of reported active cases is now 52,649, again down from the previous day.
Twelve Covid-related new deaths are recorded for the Monday, 8 February 2021 deadline, two occurring in the previous 24 hours of the deadline. The Ministry of Public health explains the large number of cases is because of unreported deaths accumulated in hospitals and clinics over the recent holidays and general delays in reporting by the hospitals. The authorities register 2,843 Covid-19-related deaths since March 2020.
The government will continue the same preventive measures in place to slow the pace of the spread of the virus through 22 February. Decree 61-21 establishes that from 9 to 22 February 2021, the curfew continues to be from 7pm (up from 5pm) to 5am. There is a three-hour free transit window on Monday to Friday (to 10pm, up from 8pm), regardless of whether the day falls on a holiday. On Saturdays 12 and 19 and Sundays 15 and 22 February 2021, the curfew starts at 5pm with a three-hour commute period (until 8pm).
Open-air public spaces, such as parks and boulevards, can be used for activities other than social gatherings and always complying with preventive health protocols. Gyms, restaurants and bars are allowed to reopen to 60% of their capacity. A maximum of six persons per table is allowed, among other health protocols. Religious ceremonies are allowed three days a week, as long as they keep within 60% of the capacity of the church and churchgoers must keep their masks on during the service.
Hotels and resorts continue to operate under previously established less restrictive health protocols.
The Ministry of Public Health continues to mandate keeping to the preventive measures of mask-wearing and physical distancing in public spaces and hand hygiene. In the cities, mask-wearing is the norm.
The Dominican Republic continues under a National State of Emergency. Congress authorized a 45-day extension from 12 January 2021 through 26 February. Pandemic fatigue, increased mobility and home and friends’ gatherings have led to increased cases in the past month.
By regional standards, the Dominican Republic has been relatively successful at treating Covid-19 and keeping the number of deaths low. For the 8 February 2021 deadline, Worldometer lists the 1M deaths per inhabitant rate for the Dominican Republic at 262. According to the same 1M deaths statistics, fewer people have died of Covid-19 in the Dominican Republic than in the United Kingdom at 1,672, Italy at 1,523, the United States at 1,435, Spain at 1,348, France at 1,215, Colombia at 1,099, Brazil at 1,089, Argentina at 1,087, Germany 749 and Canada at 550, all major markets for Dominican tourism and countries with notably better health systems.
As per Bulletin #327, with the deadline of 8 February 2021, the Ministry of Public Health has registered 224,538 confirmed cases since the first case on 1 March 2020. Partial curfew has been in place since 18 March 2020.
The number of deaths continues relatively low. As of the 8 February 2021 deadline, 2,864 persons are reported to have died of the disease in the Dominican Republic, a nation of more than 10.9 million people. The fatality rate is 1.28%. The fatality rate per 1M inhabitants is 274.11. Dominican physicians’ diverse treatment for the disease has been relatively successful in the region. The Ministry of Public Health reports that the country’s 274.11 fatality rate per 1M compares favorably to the average 1M inhabitants’ fatality rate for the Americas at 1,058.87.
The Ministry of Public Health report #327 indicates 32% of Covid-19 hospital beds are occupied (880 of 2,738 total available), again down from the previous day. 54% of the intensive care units for Covid-19 are taken (292 of 538 beds), up from the previous day. The hospitalization statistics are for all the country. Hospitalization demand in Greater Santo Domingo, Santiago and other major cities is much higher than the national average.
The past 14 days bulletin results are:
Bulletin #327: 224,538 confirmed cases, 419 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 51,831 active cases, 21 deaths are reported for the deadline, and four reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate is 1.28%, fatality rate per 1M is 274.11.
Bulletin #326: 224,119 confirmed cases, 721 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 52,649 active cases, 12 deaths are reported for the deadline, and two reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate is 1.27%, fatality rate per 1M is 272.10.
Bulletin #325: 223,398 confirmed cases, 1,250 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 53,353 active cases, 30 deaths are reported for the deadline, and none reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate is 1.27%, fatality rate per 1M is 270.95.
Bulletin #324: 222,148 confirmed cases, 1,722 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 53,688 active cases, 28 deaths are reported for the deadline, and nine reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate is 1.26%, fatality rate per 1M is 285.08.
Bulletin #323: 220,426 confirmed cases, 1,485 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 53,929 active cases, 26 deaths are reported for the deadline, and one reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate is 1.26%, fatality rate per 1M is 265.40.
Bulletin #322: 218,948 confirmed cases, 1,671 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 28 deaths are reported for the deadline, and eight reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate is 1.25%, fatality rate per 1M is 262.91.
Bulletin #321: 217,277 confirmed cases, 1,357 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 15 deaths are reported for the deadline, and none reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate is 1.25%, fatality rate per 1M is 260.23.
Bulletin #320: 215,920 confirmed cases, 834 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 16 deaths are reported for the deadline, and none reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate is 1.25%, fatality rate per 1M is 258.79.
Bulletin #319: 215,086 confirmed cases, 1,026 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 22 deaths are reported for the deadline, and three reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate is 1.25%, fatality rate per 1M is 257.26.
Bulletin #318: 214,060 confirmed cases, 1,507 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 20 deaths are reported for the deadline, and four reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate is 1.25%, fatality rate per 1M is 255.16.
Bulletin #317: 212,553 confirmed cases, 2,141 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 24 deaths are reported for the deadline, and none reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate is 1.24%, fatality rate per 1M is 253.24.
Bulletin #316: 210,412 confirmed cases, 1,802 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 23 deaths are reported for the deadline, and one reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate is 1.25%, fatality rate per 1M is 251.33.
Bulletin #315: 208,610 confirmed cases, 1,155 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 24 deaths are reported for the deadline, and none reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate is 1.25%, fatality rate per 1M is 249.13.
Bulletin #314: 207,455 confirmed cases, 1,150 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 15 deaths are reported for the deadline, and none reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate is 1.24%, fatality rate per 1M is 246.83.
Greater Santo Domingo continues to lead in the number of reported PCR cases. As of 8 February 2021 at 6pm, the deadline for Bulletin #327, the most confirmed cases have been reported in the National District (63,284) and the Santo Domingo province (43,712). The numbers account for around 48% of the 224,538 confirmed cases nationwide.
Other provinces with more than 500 cases are: Santiago (25,447), La Vega (9,323), La Altagracia (8,431), Puerto Plata (7,257), San Cristóbal (6,645), La Romana (6,584), Duarte (5,074), Espaillat (4,781), San Juan de la Maguana (3,307), Monseñor Nouel (3,297), Sánchez Ramírez (2,919), San Pedro de Macoris (2,897), Maria Trinidad Sánchez (2,866), Azua (2,584), Barahona (2,514), Valverde (2,157), Hermanas Mirabal (2,046), Peravia (1,828), Baoruco (1,276), Monte Plata (1,082), Santiago Rodriguez (1,033), Montecristi (980), Independencia (900), Dajabón (901), Samaná (809), El Seibo (801), San José de Ocoa (768), Hato Mayor (640), Pedernales (611) and Elías Piña province, on the border with Haiti, is the only province to register less than 500 cases. Elías Piña reports 387 cases as of the 8 February 2021 deadline.
The Ministry indicates that the newest allocated cases (more than 9) reported for 8 February 2021 update deadline are: National District (120), Santo Domingo (76), Santiago (84), La Romana (17), La Vega (25), Espaillat (18), La Romana (17), La Altagracia (16), María Trinidad Sánchez (15) and Duarte (10).
Haiti reports 11,908 confirmed cases and 246 deaths, for the 8 February 2021 deadline. Experts attribute the low number of deaths in Haiti in part due to extensive vaccinating of babies with the tuberculosis vaccine and widespread use of ivermectin for parasites that have raised the immunity of the population.
In the Americas, the Dominican Republic is now ranked 11th in confirmed cases after the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Canada, Panama and Ecuador.
Read more:
Decree 61-21
See the Ministry of Public Health epidemiological
bulletins
John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center
University of Washington Health Data
University of Oxford Covid Tracker
Worldometer
Our World in Data
9 February 2021