The Ministry of Public Health’s Epidemiology Department Coronavirus Bulletin #476 reports 885 new PCR cases for the Wednesday, 7 July 2021 deadline. New restrictions in place since May have checked the spike of Covid-19 cases attributed to the entry of the more transmissible variants of the original coronavirus and the increased mixing of people, confounded with the initial overconfidence of newly vaccinated people.
The Health Cabinet has challenged the people in the Dominican Republic to get fully vaccinated. The Presidency announced it would consider removing curfew restrictions in municipalities where 70% of the people have at least two doses. In the Dominican Republic the government has sufficient inventories of vaccines to apply at least 100,000 doses per day. The national average of people with at least one dose is at around 46% and the tourism province of La Altagracia (Punta Cana) has around 99% of its population with at least one vaccine.
The 885 new cases compare to the 7-day nationwide average for PCR confirmed cases that is 804, down from the previous day. As has been happening since the start of the pandemic, Greater Santo Domingo concentrates most of the new registered cases.
As per Bulletin #476, with the deadline of 7 July 2021, the Ministry of Public Health has registered 331,826 confirmed cases since the first case on 1 March 2020. Labs carried out 5,653 first-time PCR tests. This number of PCR tests compares with the 14-day average now at 5,120, up from the previous day.
The national 4-week positivity rate is 15.04%, down from the previous day. The 24-hour positivity for the day is 15.66%, up from the day before.
The number of reported active Covid-cases increased to 55,564 (+246), up from the previous 24 hours.
The nation is immersed in a nationwide vaccination drive as batches of vaccines are received from abroad. The National Vaccination Plan now contemplates a third jab of Covid-19 vaccine (Pfizer) that is different from the first two doses to be applied a month after the second dose of the Sinovac vaccine and three months after the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The vaccination drive is open to persons 12+ years old since Saturday, 12 June 2021 with the arrival of Pfizer vaccines to select vaccination centers. As of 2 July 2021, the campaign also is offering a third Pfizer booster shot to seniors and those with comorbidities. As of February 2021, there has been a consistent arrival of vaccines to continue with the National Vaccination Plan as scheduled. The goal is to have fully vaccinated upwards of 60% of the population in time for the start of the 2021-2022 school year in September 2021.
As of the 7 July 2021 deadline, the University of Virginia Covid-19 Surveillance Dashboard indicates that 5,097,374 people have been vaccinated. 3,299,065 persons have received two doses. Health experts insist that sufficient immunity is not acquired until two weeks after the person has received the second dose.
The government aspires to maintain a pace of 100,000+ vaccinations a day. The rolling 7-day average as of 6 July 2021 deadline is 75,109 vaccines applied per day, up from the previous day. The VacunateRD government website reports 5,131,732 first doses of the vaccine and 3,403,094 second doses for the 6 July 2021 vaccination deadline. Around 44% of the target population over 18 years old now have the two doses.
The government seeks to vaccinate 7.8 million people of the population of 10.8 million. In addition. This total does not take into consideration those 12-18 years of age that of June 2021 are included in the vaccination campaign with the expected weekly arrival of Pfizer vaccines.
According to Our World in Data, in the Americas, the DR is in the top five, behind the United States, Canada, and Chile in number of persons who have received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine per share of the population.
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 labs carried out the test in Santo Domingo, Santiago, Puerto Plata, La Romana and Punta Cana. Antigen tests results can be had in three hours at select 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 to show negative results of a PCR test carried out within 72 hours before the traveler’s scheduled departure to those countries. Yet, Spain has announced that travelers who have the two doses of the Sinovac or Pfizer vaccine at least two weeks before the travel date can enter without a PCR test. Both vaccines are now available in the Dominican Republic. Around 90% of those vaccinated in the Dominican Republic have received the Sinovac/Coronavac vaccine. The US requires travelers to show negative antigen or PCR test results taken within 72 hours of the arrival to US territory.
On 3 July 2021, the Presidency issued Decree 419-21 ruling that as of 7 July businesses can remain open from 5am until 10pm nationwide, Monday to Friday, with a two-hour free circulation period until midnight. On Saturdays and Sundays, businesses can open from 5am to 7pm, with a two-hour free circulation period until 9pm. Bars and restaurants can now sell alcoholic beverages until 7pm (previously the limit was to 3pm). Delivery and take out of drinks is possible until 9pm. The measures are not dated. The new measures are applicable nationwide.
The intention is to contain mobility and people mixing now that new highly transmissible variants of the virus are in circulation.
Given the spike in cases that began in May, the government ordered that public schools close for in-person learning and continue exclusively with the distance learning programs. Private schools are authorized to operate keeping to health protocols.
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 operate at 50% 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. Private schools and universities are gradually reopening to semi 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 continuation of the National Vaccination Plan.
The government received a 1 million batch of Sinovac/Coronavac vaccines on 17 March 2021 that are primarily being used for second doses. An additional 50,000 Sinopharm vaccines from China were received in the same shipment of 17 March and were used to primarily vaccinate military and police forces.
An additional batch of 500,000 Sinovac/Coronavac from China arrived on 21 April 2021.
A 2 million batch of Sinovac/Coronavac vaccines from China was received on 5 May 2021.
On 25 May 2021, a shipment arrived from China with another 1 million vials of Sinovac/Coronavac vaccines and syringes.
A 1 million batch of Sinovac/Coronavac vaccines from China arrived on 3 June 2021.
A first batch of 228,150 Pfizer vaccines arrived on 11 June 2021. The government is giving priority to children 12-17 years for these vaccines. They are also available for first dose vaccines at a select vaccination sites in Greater Santo Domingo and Santiago, the country’s two main metropolitan areas.
A 1.5 million batch of Sinovac/Coronavac vaccines from China arrived on 16 June 2021.
On 18 June 2021, the second shipment of Pfizer vaccines arrived to Santo Domingo, a batch of 208,260 doses. This brings the Pfizer shipments to 436,410 doses.
On 22 June 2021, a shipment of 3 million Sinovac/Coronavac vaccines arrived from China via Brussels, for the continuing of the vaccination program.
On 24 June 2021, a shipment of 472,000 Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines arrived.
On 25 June 2021, a batch of 208,000 Pfizer vaccine doses arrived.
On Friday, 3 July 2021, a batch of 209,430 Pfizer vaccine doses arrived, bringing the total of Pfizer vaccines to 853,840.
The Dominican government has contracted for millions of vaccines with Pfizer-BioNTech, the UK manufacturers of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, and others, directly and 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. A second batch of Covax Facility vaccines arrived on 14 May 2021, with 187,200 vials of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines. A third batch of 472,000 vials of this vaccine arrived on 24 June 2021.
In total, the Dominican Republic has received 12,472,240 vaccine doses, of which 87% have come from China – 10,768,000 Sinovac and 50,000 Sinopharm vaccines. On 1 June 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) gave emergency approval to the Sinovac vaccine. It had already cleared the Sinopharm vaccine. The emergency approval means the vaccine meets the WHO and international standards for safety, efficacy and manufacturing. China has already cleared the vaccine for use in children 3+.
Regardless of the widespread vaccination program, 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 approved Decree 417-21 that extends the National State of Emergency until 26 August 2021. The date extends the present National State of Emergency that is in place from 31 May 2021 to 14 July 2021 as per Decree 245-21.
By regional standards, the Dominican Republic has been relatively successful at treating Covid-19 and keeping the number of deaths low. For the 6 July 2021 deadline, Worldometer lists the 1M deaths per inhabitant rate for the Dominican Republic at 353. According to the same 1M deaths statistics, fewer people have died of Covid-19 in the Dominican Republic than in Brazil at 2,469, Colombia at 2,150, Argentina at 2,136, Italy at 2,116, the United Kingdom at 1,880, the United States at 1,868, Spain at 1,731, France at 1,701, Germany 1,091, Russia at 964 and Canada at 693, all major markets for Dominican tourism and countries with overall better health systems.
No Covid-related new deaths are recorded for the 7 July 2021 deadline, and no deaths occurred in the previous 24 hours of the deadline. As of the 7 July 2021 deadline, 3,870 persons are reported to have died of the disease in the Dominican Republic, a nation of more than 10.8 million adults since March 2020. The fatality rate is at 1.17%. The fatality rate per 1M inhabitants is 370.39. Dominican physicians’ diverse treatment for the disease has been relatively successful in the region. The Ministry of Public Health reports that the country’s 370.39 fatality rate per 1M compares favorably to the average 1M inhabitants’ fatality rate for the Americas at 1,853.02.
The Ministry of Public Health report #476 indicates 33% of Covid-19 hospital beds are occupied (942 of 2,890 total available), down compared to the previous day. 50% of the intensive care units for Covid-19 are taken (348 of 646 beds), down from 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 result highlights are:
Bulletin #476: 331,826 confirmed cases, 885 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 55,564 active cases, no deaths are reported for the deadline, and no deaths reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate per 1M is 370.39.
Bulletin #475: 330,941 confirmed cases, 697 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 55,318 active cases, four deaths are reported for the deadline, and two deaths reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate per 1M is 370.39.
Bulletin #474: 330,244 confirmed cases, 713 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 55,481 active cases, nine deaths are reported for the deadline, and three deaths reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate per 1M is 370.01.
Bulletin #473: 329,531 confirmed cases, 589 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 55,619 active cases, no deaths are reported for the deadline, and one death reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate per 1M is 369.14.
Bulletin #472: 328,942 confirmed cases, 566 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 55,759 active cases, 5 deaths are reported for the deadline, and one death reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate per 1M is 369.14.
Bulletin #471: 328,376 confirmed cases, 815 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 55,641 active cases, six deaths are reported for the deadline, and three deaths reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate per 1M is 368.67.
Bulletin #470: 327,561 confirmed cases, 1,368 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, 55,730 active cases, 6 deaths are reported for the deadline, and two deaths reported happening in the past 24 hours. The fatality rate per 1M is 368.09.
Greater Santo Domingo continues to lead in the number of reported PCR cases. As of 7 July 2021 at 6pm, the deadline for Bulletin #476, the most confirmed cases have been reported in the National District (91,637) and the Santo Domingo province (73,015). The numbers account for 50% of the 331,826 confirmed cases nationwide.
Other provinces are: Santiago (32,673), La Romana (12,354), La Altagracia (11,585), San Cristóbal (11,283), La Vega (11,109), Puerto Plata (8,207), Duarte (7,718), Espaillat (6,424), San Pedro de Macoris (5,454), San Juan de la Maguana (5,241), Barahona (4,548), Azua (4,263), Maria Trinidad Sánchez (3,815), Monseñor Nouel (3,737), Sánchez Ramírez (3,468), Valverde (3,152), Hermanas Mirabal (3,020), Peravia (3,012), Monte Plata (1,959), Baoruco (1,875), Santiago Rodriguez (1,551), Hato Mayor (1,565), Montecristi (1,510), Dajabón (1,410), Independencia (1,310), San José de Ocoa (1,288), El Seibo (1,155), Samaná (1,061), Pedernales (875) and Elías Piña (483) as of the 7 July 2021 deadline.
The Ministry indicates that the newest allocated cases (more than 9) reported for the 7 July 2021 update deadline are: the National District (140) and Santo Domingo province (187) in Greater Santo Domingo. Greater Santo Domingo concentrates around 50% of the nationwide spread of the virus.
Haiti reports 19,220 confirmed cases and 471 deaths, for the 7 July 2021 deadline. There is a spike in Haiti likewise attributed to the new variants. Haiti is the only country in the Western Hemisphere that has not yet started its Covid-19 vaccination program. This happened because the Haitian government rejected a first Covax facility donation of AstraZeneca vaccines. The Dominican government authorized the vaccinating of Haitians with domicile in the Dominican Republic.
Overall, health experts attribute the general low number of deaths in Haiti (41 per 1M pop compared to 353 per 1M pop in DR) in part due to widespread 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 nor exercise physical distancing.
In the Americas, the Dominican Republic is now ranked 14th in confirmed PCR cases after the United States, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, Peru, Canada, Chile, Panama, Ecuador, Bolivia, Uruguay and Costa Rica.
Read more:
Decree 419-21
Decree 417-21
Decree 398-21
Decree 378-21
Decree 364-21
Decree 349-21
Special Tourism regulations related to Decree 349-21
Decree 346-21
Decree 345-21 – National State of Emergency
Decree 319-21
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
University of Virginia Covid-19 Surveillance Dashboard
8 July 2021