New York journalist Ramon Mercedes reports from New York that the Department of Health has established that Washington Heights is one of the most affected neighborhoods in Manhattan. A large number of Dominicans live in that neighborhood. Mercedes estimates the Dominican population is around 850,000 in New York City.
Mercedes suggested the very gregarious nature of the Dominican community led it to not take the disease seriously until it was too late. In an interview for Esta Noche con Mariasela (Channel 9) on Friday evening, he said the situation has changed and very few restaurants and other businesses remain open. He estimated that 96% of the businesses were closed. “If New York City is the city that never sleeps, now it is snoring,” he said. He estimated hundreds of thousands have lost their jobs, remittances will decline significantly, and many Dominicans will return to the DR. Upwards of 75 Dominicans have died in New York City, according to journalistic reports.
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El Caribe
El Guardian
6 April 2020