Business leaders have stepped up the pressure for the government to allow them to open. The businesses say they too can implement Covid-19 protocols, including social distance measures as has been applied at supermarkets, banks and pharmacies, farms, mines and certain industries.
The president of the Dominican Federation of Merchants, Ivan Garcia, asked the government on Wednesday, 6 May to allow the gradual reopening of small and medium businesses starting 11 May. The National State of Emergency was extended to 11 May.
In a press conference, García said that micro, small and medium businesses (MSMEs) “are on the verge of economic collapse” and, furthermore, run the risk of going bankrupt if the government does not allow them to reopen. These businesses have been closed now for almost two months.
García said that the reopening of the businesses would have the positive effect of decongesting the large shopping centers where he said sometimes kilometric lines are formed for purchases.
On Tuesday, Minister of the Presidency Gustavo Montalvo had reported that the government has not yet set a date for the reopening of the economy.
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El Nuevo Diario
El Nuevo Diario
7 May 2020