The Ministry of Public Health’s Epidemiology Department Coronavirus Bulletin #400 reports 535 new PCR cases for the Wednesday, 22 April 2021 deadline. The cases compare to the 7-day nationwide average for PCR confirmed cases that is 476.
As per Bulletin #400, with the deadline of 22 April 2021, the Ministry of Public Health has registered 263,470 confirmed cases since the first case on 1 March 2020. Labs carried out 2,065 first PCR tests. The number of PCR tests compares with the 14-day average now at 3,156.
The nationwide 4-week positivity rate is 10.91%, up slightly from the previous day. The 24-hour positivity for the day is 16.32%, up from the day before.
The number of reported active Covid-cases increased to 39,344, up (+9) from the previous 24 hours. The active cases have been rising since Bulletin #384. Nevertheless, the numbers have yet to make real the concerns that the population’s greater mobility over the Easter Week holiday would bring a major spike in cases. The Easter holidays have resulted in a slight upward trend in active cases.
The nation is immersed in a nationwide vaccination drive as batches of vaccines are received from abroad. The inoculation drive reopened on 22 April 2021 for persons 60+ and those that accompany an adult 75+, regardless of the age of the person. As reported, half a million doses of Chinese vaccine arrived on a TUI Fly flight from Brussels, Belgium on Wednesday, 21 April 2021.
Public Health Minister Daniel Rivera reported on 20 April that as of Saturday, 17 April 637,114 persons had received the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine in the Dominican Republic. He said 1,530,965 persons have at least a first dose of the vaccine. The government seeks to vaccinate 7.8 million people.
In the ongoing First Phase, medical workers and those 70+ years and older, and those 60+ with co-morbidities were the first to be vaccinated. Also, public school school teachers and all health care workers. Those 18+ accompanying a person of 75+ are included in the first phase priority group. The government is vaccinating elite athletes that need to travel abroad for international competitions. On Sunday, 22 March, the government also began to vaccinate military and police. On 24 March the government began the inoculation drive for the second dose for those already vaccinated in the country that continues. The government officially announced that vaccination centers were open to the 60+ age groups for first vaccinations and to all who required a second vaccination.
The government had slowed the pace of vaccinating with the first dose as it awaited new batches of vaccines. The first shipment of Pan American Health Organization-Covax Facility vaccines arrived on 6 April 2021. The 91,200 vials of AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in South Korea will be used to apply second doses to those who had received the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine, primarily medical workers.
A shipment of 1 million Chinese Sinovac vaccines arrived on Wednesday, 17 March at Las Americas International Airport but these are primarily for the second dose vaccinations. Another batch of 50,000 Sinopharm vaccines donated by the Chinese government are being used to continue with targeted priority groups, primarily the military and police. A second shipment of Sinovac vaccines arrived on 21 April 2021 to continue phase 1 vaccinations.
Regarding Covid-19 testing in the Dominican Republic, 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. PCR test results are usually given in 24 hours or less online.
Canada and Spain are requiring all entering the 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 to show negative antigen or PCR test results taken within 72 hours of the arrival to US territory or a full schedule of US-approved vaccines.
Seven Covid-related new deaths are recorded for the 22 April 2021 deadline, while the bulletin reports no deaths occurring in the previous 24 hours of the deadline. The authorities register 3,448 Covid-19-related deaths since March 2020.
On Friday, 16 April, the Presidency issued Decree 253-21 that extends the Monday to Friday deadline to 10pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays to 9pm with free circulation until 12 midnight every day of the week. This is good news for food vendors and businesses. The measures are effective for Monday, 19 April through Sunday, 16 May 2021. Previously, the presidency had issued Decree 231-21 on 15 April that had extended all the measures in place to combat Covid-19.
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. Theaters have resumed showings under health protocols. Schools continue officially closed for in-person learning.
Hotels and resorts continue to operate under previously established less restrictive health protocols. This means that alcoholic beverages are available at restaurants and bars within the resort or hotel areas that are under the tourism protocols.
The government began to vaccinate for the Covid-19 virus on 16 February 2021. The first phase of vaccinations covered the around 12,000 front-line staff at clinics and hospitals that see Covid-19 patients. Two first batches of 20,000 and 30,000 doses of Covishield arrived from the India Oxford-AstraZeneca manufacturing plant since 15 February 2021. The next shipment was one of 768,000 doses of Sinovac/Coronavac vaccine that arrived on 23 February 2021 from China for the continuing of the National Vaccination Plan. The government received a 1 million batch of Sinovac vaccines on 17 March 2021 that are primarily being used for second doses. An additional batch of 500,000 Sinovac/Coronavac from China arrived on 21 April 2021. The Dominican government has also contracted vaccines with UK manufacturers of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, Pfizer-BioNTech and others, through the World Health Organization-Covax Facility. The first vaccines of the Covax Facility were received on 6 April, some 91,200 vials of Oxford/AstraZeneca.
The Ministry of Public Health continues to mandate keeping to the preventive measures of mask-wearing, physical distancing in public spaces, hand hygiene and keeping to well-ventilated areas. In the cities, mask-wearing is the norm and is mandatory. As of recent weeks, mask usage is relaxed in ventilated public areas. Shopping malls and major stores continue to require the use of the facial masks.
The Dominican Republic continues under a National State of Emergency. The Presidency enacted Decree 231-21 that extends the National State of Emergency for another 45-day period from Friday, 16 April to Sunday, 16 May 2021.
By regional standards, the Dominican Republic has been relatively successful at treating Covid-19 and keeping the number of deaths low. For the 22 April 2021 deadline, Worldometer lists the 1M deaths per inhabitant rate for the Dominican Republic at 315. According to the same 1M deaths statistics, fewer people have died of Covid-19 in the Dominican Republic than in Italy at 1,966, the United Kingdom at 1,869, Brazil at 1,808, the United States at 1,759, Spain at 1,659, France at 1,562, Colombia at 1,373, Argentina at 1,344, Germany 977, Russia at 739 and Canada at 628, all major markets for Dominican tourism and countries with overall better health systems.
The number of deaths continues relatively low. As of the 22 April 2021 deadline, 3,448 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 1.31%. The fatality rate per 1M inhabitants is 330.00. Dominican physicians’ diverse treatment for the disease has been relatively successful in the region. The Ministry of Public Health reports that the country’s 330.00 fatality rate per 1M compares favorably to the average 1M inhabitants’ fatality rate for the Americas at 1,416.34.
The Ministry of Public Health report #400 indicates 23% of Covid-19 hospital beds are occupied (567 of 2,425 total available), up from the previous day. 36% of the intensive care units for Covid-19 are taken (182 of 504 beds), similar to the day before. 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 seven days bulletin results are:
Bulletin #400: 263,470 confirmed cases, 535 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 39,344 active cases, 7 deaths are reported for the deadline, and two reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate per 1M is 330.00.
Bulletin #399: 262,935 confirmed cases, 531 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 39,335 active cases, 6 deaths are reported for the deadline, and none reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate per 1M is 329.33.
Bulletin #398: 262,404 confirmed cases, 556 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 39,324 active cases, 9 deaths are reported for the deadline, and none reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate per 1M is 328.76.
Bulletin #397: 261,848 confirmed cases, 317 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 39,160 active cases, 4 deaths are reported for the deadline, and none reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate per 1M is 327.89.
Bulletin #396: 261,531 confirmed cases, 402 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 39,121 active cases, 4 deaths are reported for the deadline, and none reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate per 1M is 327.51.
Bulletin #395: 261,129 confirmed cases, 502 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 38,987 active cases, 4 deaths are reported for the deadline, and one reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate per 1M is 327.13.
Bulletin #394: 260,627 confirmed cases, 494 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 38,907 active cases, 4 deaths are reported for the deadline, and none reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate per 1M is 326.75.
Greater Santo Domingo continues to lead in the number of reported PCR cases. As of 22 April 2021 at 6pm, the deadline for Bulletin #399, the most confirmed cases have been reported in the National District (77,116) and the Santo Domingo province (53,420). The numbers account for around 49% of the 263,470 confirmed cases nationwide.
Other provinces are: Santiago (28,632), La Vega (10,292), La Altagracia (9,503), La Romana (7,933), San Cristóbal (7,906), Puerto Plata (7,689), Duarte (6,525), Espaillat (5,275), San Juan de la Maguana (3,904), San Pedro de Macoris (3,728), Monseñor Nouel (3,502), Azua (3,319), Sánchez Ramírez (3,201), Maria Trinidad Sánchez (3,147), Barahona (2,746), Valverde (2,541), Hermanas Mirabal (2,398), Peravia (2,293), Baoruco (1,414), Monte Plata (1,310), Santiago Rodriguez (1,183), Monte Cristi (1,185), Dajabón (1,079), Independencia (1,028), Samaná (917), El Seibo (886), Hato Mayor (867), San José de Ocoa (828), Pedernales (655) and Elías Piña (410) as of the 22 April 2021 deadline.
The Ministry indicates that the newest allocated cases (more than 9) reported for 22 April 2021 update deadline are: National District (195) and Santo Domingo (138) in Greater Santo Domingo.
Haiti reports 12,944 confirmed cases and 251 deaths, for the 22 April 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 person education has continued regularly in Haiti, and most people do not wear masks.
In the Americas, the Dominican Republic is now ranked 12th in confirmed PCR cases after the United States, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, Peru, Canada, Chile, Panama, Ecuador and Bolivia.
Read more:
Decree 253-21
Decree 231-21
Decree 133-21
See the Ministry of Public Health epidemiological
bulletins
VacunateRD
John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center
University of Washington Health Data
University of Oxford Covid Tracker
Worldometer
Our World in Data
24 April 2021