It could be said that with few exceptions, resorts all over the country celebrated some kind of New Year’s party. Most were outdoor parties on the beach or in large open spaces. The resorts are operating on a separate protocol, and thousands of Dominicans headed to the resorts to be free of the strict lockdowns in the city. There were protocols, but the compliance with mask-wearing and keeping physical distance, was mostly left up to the individuals. At the hotels, the general rule was everyone knows by now knows how to keep safe and people should adhere to the protocols.
The news over the long New Year’s weekend, though was the fining of the Palladium resort in Bavaro. The Palladium party reportedly was sold at US$100 per person. The hotel argues they kept to the rules of no more than six persons per table and the tables were set out in a large space outdoors.
It could have been that the people staying there were most effusive in sending videos of the good times they were having. Several influences, nevertheless, blasted the party after party videos went viral on Twitter and Instagram.
By morning, 1 January 2021, the entire country knew that the “special people” out in Bavaro/Punta Cana had been at a very big party without face coverings, where people were having a good time forgetting physical distancing.
RD$4,000,000 fine was levied against the hotel, with a warning that any other violation would result in the suspension of their operating license. The Dominican Association of Hotels & Tourism (Asonahores) issued a press note backing the government’s action in this case.
The hotel argued they had met with the protocols.
Read more in Spanish:
El Caribe
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El Dia
3 January 2021