The Medina administration had requested an extension of the National State of Emergency to enforce physical distance, mobility and other measures to avoid the spread of the Covid-19. But Diario Libre and many other media are carrying photographs of ruling party political activities, and agglomerations of people in violation with the social distancing rules. The people gatherings are happening during the day and even at night time. Diario Libre reports many restaurants, only authorized to sell food for takeout or delivery, are allowing patrons to sit down to a meal.
Diario Libre says that government law enforcement agencies are not doing anything about the people ignoring social distancing requirements. The media is full of videos of campaigning activities, primarily of the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), where thousands of people agglomerate to receive free food, computers and appliances, propane gas, etc. Nevertheless, N Digital reports that the Army was available to impede that a group of youths protest in the Plaza de la Bandera. The soldiers argued the gatherings are prohibited because of the order to maintain social distance.
Former president of the Dominican Olympic Committee, physician José Joaquín Puello Herrera lamented that people seem to have lost their fear of the Covid-19. In an interview with Hoy, he said: “People go out, think they’re not going to get it, they’ve gotten used to it, they think the numbers that have been offered are to scare. No, the numbers are real and probably the numbers are higher than what the Health Ministry is saying,” he argued.
He said that in many neighborhoods, relatives hide the patient affected by the virus, because there is a stigma that having the disease is like having leprosy or AIDS.
He assured that people must understand that it is a disease that, in most cases, passes as a flu between 80% and 85% of the patients, but 15% will suffer complications. Dr Puello said that it is a disease that is here to stay, and that many months will still need to go by before the epidemic is nixed. He urged the population continue to maintain physical distancing.
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Hoy
N Digital
16 June 2020