The Ministry of Public Health reports that Covid-19 variants are behind the new spike in the coronavirus locally.
Two important variants of Covid-19 are circulating in the Dominican Republic. These are the highly transmissible B.1.1.7, from Great Britain, and the P.1 from Brazil.
The Ministry of Public Health (MSP) reports there are 19 provinces of the Dominican Republic with coronavirus variants. The report issued by MSP indicates the variants are present in several border cities. Haiti at present is suffering through a major spike in the spread of Covid-19, after maintaining a very low infection rate since the start of the pandemic.
The new variants are more infectious and tend to affect young people as well as old ones. Furthermore, the aggressiveness of the new variants has led to an increase in hospitalizations. Many who catch the new strain of the virus go from showing no symptoms to requiring intensive care in a hospital in less than 48 hours.
The Civil Aviation Board (JAC) issued Resolution 103-2021 over the weekend whereby travelers coming from United Kingdom, (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) need to present a PCR or antigen test carried out in the past 72 hours of the arrival. The resolution is to be reviewed every five days as of 29 May 2021.
Likewise, travelers coming from Brazil and South Africa are also required to present a PCR test upon arrival. For Brazil and South Africa, the requirement is in effect for 30 days, as of the same 29 May date, and can be extended.
Read more in Spanish:
N Digital
Listin Diario
Hoy
The Washington Post
The Conversation
30 May 2021