The Abinader administration announced it has requested an extension of the National State of Emergency for another 45 days. The Abinader administration has requested six states of emergency extensions in its nine months of government since 16 August 2020.
The spread of the disease had been declining after a spike over the Christmas holiday. Yet, the nationwide positivity rate has increased to 12.18% as of the 15 May 2021 Covid-19 bulletin, with most cases concentrated in Greater Santo Domingo. Active cases are up since last week, reflecting the greater mobility.
The announcement of the extension of the restrictive Covid-19 measures comes when almost everything is practically back to normal, except schools that only in April 2021 have restored in-person learning. The Ministry of Education has authorized pre-school and elementary in-person learning to reopen nationwide as of 25 May 2021.
It was not until Sunday, 16 May 2021, when the Abinader administration announced it would be asking the National Congress to extend the National State of Emergency to continue with special measures to combat the Covid-19. The request was made earlier in a letter to the president of the Senate, Eduardo Estrella that was sent on Friday, 14 May. Listin Diario reports that when in the opposition, the today ruling Modern Revolutionary Party had been a strong critic of the keeping of the state of emergency. The state of emergency enables simplified procurement procedures for the government.
In the letter sent to the Senate, President Luis Abinader argues that the measures adopted as part of the state of emergency have permitted the control of the disease and a gradual and safe economic reopening. The DR has been under a state of emergency since 20 July 2020.
If the request made by President Abinader last Friday is approved by Congress, the new state of emergency would begin on 30 May and would end in mid-July.
Likewise, the government issued Decree 319-21, extending curfew measures that would have expired on 17 May. The curfew is from Monday to Friday, starting at 10pm until 5am, with two-hour free circulation until midnight. On weekends, curfew is from 9pm to 5am, with the free circulation a.m., with free circulation again until midnight.
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Listin Diario
El Caribe
Listin Diario
17 May 2021