Public Health Minister Dr. Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas understands the measures in effect have been working. He said the positive test rate of 25-30% in the country continues the same regardless of the number of tests carried out. He said this is the same regardless whether 300 or 800 tests are carried out.
Dr. Sánchez Cárdenas says the Dominican people have been collaborating. During the 21 April press conference he acknowledged, “There are times when after a month, people have to go out,” he said, in remarks about agglomeration of people in stores and banks.
“The participation of people in general has not been as bad as may appear,” he said. He said there has been great collaboration, mentioning churches, development associations, companies that have joined the national effort. “These are especially important and have added great value to the national response to the virus,” he stated.
“Social distancing is the weapon against the disease,” he stressed. He urged political parties to convince people to keep physical distance when in public places.
“How are we going to restrict people, we can’t do it by military force,” he said. He said only citizen awareness can achieve this. He said Dominicans have shown great resilience.
The chief of the Police, Ney Aldrin Bautista says that more than 45,000 people have been arrested for violating the 5pm to 6am curfew.
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YouTube — Press Conference Minister of Public Health
22 April 2020