The number of deaths after drinking illicit alcohol beverages is competing with Covid-19 deaths. The Ministry of Public Health’s Department of Epidemiology says that so far 177 people have died in the Dominican Republic as a result of drinking the beverages that are sold for cheap at low-income barrios nationwide. The government has dismantled many clandestine factories, but the deaths to arrive to public hospitals nationwide.
Dr. Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas said they are continuing to locate the clandestine plants where methanol is used as an ingredient. He said initially the improvised factories were located in Greater Santo Domingo, but these now are known to be operating in border provinces.
The Ministry of Public Health shared statistics of methanol intoxications by age and sex:
20-29 years: 7 deaths, 7 men
30-39 years: 26 deaths, 25 men, 1 woman
40-49 years: 61 deaths, 55 men, 6 women
50-59 years: 52 deaths, 48 men, 4 women
60+ years: 22 deaths, 19 men, 3 women
No age determined: 9 persons, all men
Follow the story in Spanish:
Ministry of Public Health press briefing
Listin Diario
13 May 2020