The Ministry of Public Health assured that despite the existence of a proven case of coronavirus in the country, the disease is not circulating in the Dominican Republic and there is no reason for undue anxiety. “Despite the diagnosis, we want to inform the entire national community that the COVID-19 virus is not circulating in the country as of today,” said Health Minister Dr. Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas during a press conference.
He said all Dominicans can be confident what is affecting Dominicans this winter season is the seasonal flu or influenza. He said that there are 36 people who are being monitored at home, with the respective measures that must be taken to protect their families and communities where they reside.
During a press conference, he said that a French patient, who was treated at the Plaza de la Salud and later was taken to the Dr. Ramon de Lara Hospital on San Isidro air force base east of Santo Domingo, tested negative for the coronavirus. A three-year old Swiss boy, and another 15-year old Italian were discharged after also testing negative. The health authorities are waiting for the results of tests on a Russian patient.
The Dominican Republic announced its first case of coronavirus, that of an Italian tourist who stayed at a resort in Bayahibe. He is suffering a mild case of Covid-19 and is recovering at the Dr. Ramón de Lara Air Force Teaching Hospital. The announcement is concurrent with the first case in Manhattan. The Dominican Republic is the most connected country in the Caribbean. In the Caribbean, other cases have been reported in St. Maarten, St Barthélemy and Guadeloupe.
Public Health Minister Sánchez Cardenas said that in the next two weeks a special isolation unit will be opened at the Las Americas naval base to treat people infected with the COVID-19 virus.
At present, there are special units that have been set up at the Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia Maternity Hospital, the Dr. Marcelino Vélez Santana Regional General Hospital in Santo Domingo, the Dr. Ricardo Limardo Hospital in Puerto Plata, the José María Cabral y Báez Hospital in Santiago and the Dr. Ramón de Lara Air Force Teaching Hospital.
Read more in Spanish:
El Caribe
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
3 March 2020