Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo, who is the coordinator of the High Commission for Prevention of the Coronavirus, did not authorize the moving to phase three of the reopening plan. The government announced it would instead undertake epidemiological interventions to isolate infected persons and reduce the spread of the disease in Greater Santo Domingo. He said the decision was taken because after the reopening of the economy, there has been a significant increase in reported cases. Phase three was scheduled for 17 June and called for companies to be allowed to reintegrate 100% of their workers, and churches to celebrate masses three times a week.
Montalvo, nevertheless, says the reopening of the tourism sector, scheduled for 1 July, is still in the books, yet this will depend on the evolution of the health indicators. He announced the tourism health sector guidelines had been approved and would be delivered to the private sector on the next day. For 17 June a meeting with the industry was called to discuss these and measures that are needed so that the sector can resume its activities without complications.
The Presidential Committee for Covid-19 Response under Dr. Amado Alejandro Báez had recommended earlier not moving to the third phase in the reopening. Dr. Báez told the nation from the Presidential Palace on Tuesday, 16 June that the committee did not recommend further easing of restrictions. The coronavirus health management committee said it is recommending that President Danilo Medina not authorize moving to phase three of the reopening plan. He made the statement, just hours before the scheduled start of phase three, set for 17 June. During this phase, all employees of large companies would be authorized to return to work. Churches would be permitted to hold mass three times a week.
Dr. Báez said the start of each phase is dependent on how the previous phase works out. He said that measures taken by the government to combat the coronavirus are physical distancing, avoiding crowds, mandatory use of masks, both at work, on the streets or in public places, and hand washing. However, they have not been enough to prevent the spread of the virus. Dr. Báez also spoke of an intervention in La Altagracia, to ensure that area is ready for the advent of summer tourism.
The Emergency and Health Management Committee for Combating Covid-19 held a meeting last Sunday with President Danilo Medina, which concluded with the decision to strengthen prevention measures to control the spread of Covid-19.
“The population must understand the obligatory use of masks as a tool for the prevention of the virus in the country because it is a basic measure, very effective, but incredibly necessary,” said Dr. Báez, spokesman for the committee.
In a 15 June 2020 interview with Public Health Minister Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas for El Informe con Alicia Ortega, the investigative journalist repeatedly asked Sánchez whether the government was manipulating the health statistics for political reasons.
The fatality rate in the Dominican Republic has been consistently declining. From 4.29 on 30 April 2020, it has declined to 2.86 on 31 May and 2.60 on 16 June 2020.
Presidential and congressional elections are scheduled for 5 July 2020. Likewise, phase four of the economic activation plan had called for hotels and restaurants to reopen.
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Ministry of Public Health