The 4-week Covid-19 positivity rate is now at 9.56%, with the 24-hour positivity rate at 2.07%, as per Covid-19 Bulletin #1,027 dated 9 January 2023. The downward trend in cases continues.
The number of Covid-19 registered cases in the Dominican Republic for Bulletin #1,027 was 3, reflecting the passing of the Christmas time mild virus wave. Only 145 first-time lab tests were carried out at registered labs. This includes 5 PCR tests. The seven-day average of lab-reported cases is 48.
Nevertheless, the number of Covid-19 cases is said to be more, with most going undiagnosed or diagnosed with home antigen kits. With very few exceptions, most cases are mild and are treated as a cold at home.
The Ministry of Public Health is encouraging people to up their vaccination status, with a third, fourth or fifth vaccine that are available for free in the Dominican Republic. The analysis of samples from people recently infected with Covid-19 confirms the subvariant of the Omicron strain, known as XBB, is circulating in the country. The new variant is not worse than the Omicron, but does spread rapidly. The symptoms are a cough, runny nose and fever.
The number of Covid-19 cases had increased before the holidays as the weather turned chilly in the evenings and early mornings. More people are congregating inside, meaning greater possibilities for spreading the virus. But most people are just seeing Covid as a seasonal cold.
The number of active cases is down to 266. The seven-day active cases average is now 337 with a marked downward trend.
Except in hospitals, every day less people wear facial masks in the Dominican Republic. Nevertheless, in recent days, given the impact of seasonal influenza, more people are again using face masks as a preventive measure.
As per Bulletin #1,027, with the deadline of 9 January 2023, the Ministry of Public Health has registered 659,572 PCR or antigen-confirmed cases since the first case on 1 March 2020.
As of the 9 January 2023 deadline, 4,384 persons are reported to have died of the disease in the Dominican Republic, a nation of more than 10.8 million adults since March 2020. The 1M/death rate is at 395 compared to the 2,786.78 average for the Americas region. The fatality rate in the DR is at 0.66%. The fatality rate per 1M inhabitants is 419.58.
For a first time since March 2020, there were no cases of Covid-19 reported in Greater Santo Domingo for the 9 January 2023 epidemiological bulletin. The three new reported cases are located in Santiago.
The Ministry of Public Health says people in the Dominican Republic should take up again enhanced hygiene measures, mask wearing and social distancing to avoid falling ill the new Covid-19 variants, but more so with seasonal influenza and dengue, respiratory syncytial virus. The government has made available hundreds of thousands of free flu vaccines at regular vaccination stations nationwide.
11 January 2023