The Senate public health committee has told the press that it sees as positive extending the National State of Emergency for another 45 days. The extension is expected to be passed in the Thursday, 26 August 2021 Senate work session.
Lía Díaz Santana (PRM-Azua), president of the Senate Public Health Committee, advanced on Wednesday that the committee would render a favorable opinion during the Thursday, 26 August 2021 session. Thursday is the last day of the present 45-day extension.
Public Health Minister Daniel Rivera visited the committee to argue in favor of the extension. He stressed the importance of keeping curfew in place for the start of the in-person school year on 20 September given the high possibility of a resurgence due to the Delta variant. At present, the medical authorities say the Gamma variant is the most prevalent. Dominican health authorities have not yet identified that the fast-spreading Delta variant is in the country.
Dr. Rivera reportedly said that 13 provinces are still lagging behind in vaccinating against Covid-19. “We ask you to please approve this new extension because we have many commitments. This is a disease that has shown us that in several countries after being neglected outbreaks have surged. He highlighted there still is a considerable number of people who are not fully vaccinated and others who simply do not want to be inoculated.
Interestingly, the hometown of the minister of Public Health, Santiago is one of the provinces where there is most spread of Covid-19. During the Wednesday, 25 August 2021, the director of Epidemiology, Dr. Ronald Skewes said the most spread of the disease, with 446 cases from 16 to 25 August 2021, has occurred in Santiago. Santiago has only 49% of its population with the two doses despite having many vaccination centers.
Health Cabinet head, Vice President Raquel Peña advocates for removing the National State of Emergency when 70% of the population in all provinces is fully vaccinated. So far, there is only one province, La Altagracia (Punta Cana, Bayahibe, Higuey, Veron) and the National District, where 70%+ of the population are vaccinated. She has stated: “We must not lower our guard because this does not mean that the extension of the state of emergency is requested to remain with our arms crossed. We are working 24/7 to be able to accelerate the vaccinating.”
The keeping of the National State of Emergency enables the government to carry out fast-tracked procurement operations.
Read more in Spanish:
El Nuevo Diario
El Caribe
Noticias SIN
26 August 2021