COVID-19

This is disturbing-
from the London Telegraph - just the intro

Revealed: How coronavirus attacks your veins, heart, brain and blood – as well as lungs

Research suggests the contagion can get deep into our vascular system and even our brains – so how does the virus attack?
By Sarah Newey and Paul Nuki, Global Health Security Editor, London 24 April 2020 • 6:00am
An illustration depicting how coronavirus attacks the body
Doctors are seeing a range of illnesses in Covid-19 patients; some people develop blood clots, others heart attacks or kidney failure

We think of Covid-19 as a respiratory virus – one that simply attacks the lungs.

But scientists are now wondering if it is much more than that, with a stream of medical papers being published over the last few weeks which suggests the contagion can get deep into our vascular system and even our brains. 

“We are seeing a range of illness; some people develop blood clots, others heart attacks or kidney failure,” said Prof Ajay Shah, BHF Professor and consultant cardiologist at King's College Hospital, London.

“There are still many unknowns, but the amount of research effort that is going on to try and understand exactly what is happening to patients with Covid is absolutely phenomenal.”

So how does the virus attack?
Nose and throat

It is here that the infection begins, colonising the upper nasal tract, often blocking out our sense of smell, before moving down into the throat.

The cells here are rich in an enzyme known as ACE2. They enable the “spike proteins” on the surface of the virus to latch on and replicate at pace.

At this point patients are highly infectious, but may not yet be suffering any symptoms. It’s one of the virus’s most devious and unusual tricks – to get its human hosts to spread it to others without letting them know they are ill.
Lungs

If the body’s immune system doesn’t kill it off at this early stage, the virus travels down the windpipe and into the lungs.

It is inside the lungs that the virus turns nasty. It invades the millions of tiny air sacs in the lungs, causing them to become inflamed.

“It’s what we would call pneumonitis – inflammation of the lung tissue – and stops the oxygen being taken up properly, it makes the lungs wet and heavy,” said Dr Duncan Young, professor of intensive care medicine at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences.

For some patients, this can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) – a potentially fatal condition where blood oxygen levels drop to a dangerously low level.

“You can stop them dying from a lack of oxygen on a ventilator,” said Dr Young. “But that doesn’t stop the course of the infection, it carries on. You’re keeping them alive hoping that their own immune system fights the virus.”

Unfortunately, for many people, the immune system overreacts to the infection – triggering a a “cytokine storm” whereby the body essentially attacks itself.

“This body-wide inflammatory process causes you to get a high heart rate. It makes blood vessels leak fluid, a bit like a blister. It’s what makes the 20 per cent of people who get kidney failure get kidney failure, and it probably is what causes people to get heart problems,” said Dr Young.

“So when patients die in ICU, they primarily die of this cytokine storm. They die of multiple organ failure as everything gives up.”

Bulletin #37:

Total Confirmed Cases:   5926    Increase:  177
Total Deaths:                        273    Increase:      6
Total Recovered                   822    Increase:    59
Total Active Cases:             4831   Increase:    122
Total ICU:                               136
Total PCR Tests:               21284  Increase:     1014

In Detail:

DN                                     +34
SD                                      +26
Azua                                  +5
Duarte                               +5
Espaillat                            +24
La Romana                       + 8
La Vega                              +8
Maria TS                            +3
Peravia                              +2
Puerto Plata                     +7
Hermanas M                    +5
San Cristobel                    +9
San Juan                            +1
SPM                                   +1
Sanchez Ramirez             +1
Santiago                            +35
Monsignor N                     +2
Hato Mayor                       +1

Análisis del crecimiento del COVID-19
en la República Dominicana INFORME #32

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12aDkJR … sIAgo/view

Can you tell me has the Coronavirus arrived there yet? If so how is it going?

Welcome to the forums.  Please read the thread you just posted on!

Bulletin #38:

Total Confirmed Cases:  6135       Increase: 209
Total Deaths:                      278       Increase:      5
Total Recovered:                910       Increase:    88
Total Active Cases:            4947      Increase:   116
Total ICU:                               140
Total PCR Tests:                22498    Increase:  1214

In Detail:

DN                                                +54
SD                                                 +52
Santiago                                      +11
Duarte                                         +25
La Altagracia                                +1
La Romana                                  +2
Puerto Plata                                +1
La Vega                                         +5
Hermanas M                                +2
SPM                                               +1
Monsignor N                               +9
Sanchez Ramirez                        +25
San Cristobel                               +9
Azua                                              +1
Valverde                                       +5
Peravia                                          +1
Monte Plata                                 +2
Santiago Rodriguez                    +1
El Seibo                                         +1
San Jose de Ocoa                        +1

1/2 the cases are SD & DN

The percentage varies from day to day and the incidence of cases per 100k people is high in DN but much lower in SD. This is data given in the MoH daily reports. 43% of all cases in DR to date in the capital.

Apart from DN, all the highest confirmed incidences of the virus per 100k population are in all the Cibao and adjacent provinces to Duarte. Spikes yesterday in Espaillat and today in Sanchez Ramirez are notable.

To put this in perspective, DN has a rate of 148, Santo Domingo 39, Santiago 73, Maria T S 58, Hermanas Mirabel 165, Duarte 196, La Vega 104.

The virus is still widely spread in the regional towns plus Santo Domingo and Santiago and containment, testing, tracing and isolating should be continued for several more weeks to beat this.

Yup,  almost since the beginning  1/2 of all cases in greater Santo Domingo. Well that matches population distribution. Almost 1/2 the population of the country is here.

And direct correlation between density of population and the % infected.  Simple really.  DN has more densely populated  barrios than Santo Domingo. Same in Santiago,  San Francisco de Macoris etc.

More about cities than  it is about provinces.

Feel they will open different parts of the country before others?

DRVisitor wrote:

Feel they will open different parts of the country before others?

Most unlikely imo. Domestic restrictions on movement will come first.

https://www.facebook.com/detrasdelrumor … 189535107/

Puerto Plata has a serious problem with covid19 but.....now worse to come....

I can't believe this video.

Are people too stupid to realise these implications for the wider audiences?  Disgraceful & selfish behaviour.  Where is the police?  What the on earth are they doing?

Ducketts

Big gatherings were a major factor in the spread of covid19 in San Francisco de Macoris and beyond.

For sure madness and watch the numbers next week as it could rip through the North Coast.

That is a major problem in the provincial towns imo.

More....

Crowd in Puerto Plata crowds for pilgrimage

https://m.noticiassin.com/multitud-en-p … grinacion/

PUERTO PLATA. Crowds of people gathered to support a pilgrimage, defying the isolation warning to avoid contagion of the coronavirus.

Immediately, the Catholic Church dissociated itself from what happened this Sunday in this city.

Monsignor Julio César Corniel Amaro, in exclusive statements to the correspondent Edén Domínguez, stated that the church reproaches the attitude of the population that took to the streets to follow a supposed pilgrim.

The bishop of the Diocese of Puerto Plata indicated that the Catholic Church does not agree or support this type of pilgrimage, so it has nothing to do with what happened this Sunday.


And in Listin Diario:

IN PUERTO PLATA
Hundreds challenge social distancing and participate in a walk with El Peregrino

Defying the rules of social distancing, which seek to reduce contagions by EL COVID-19, hundreds of people accompanied the Pilgrim of Villa Altagracia to carry a cross on the beach of the boardwalk in this city, under a burning sun proclaiming that starting Monday the disease will begin to disappear from the country.

Men, women and children raised their hands and sang the song "Peace in the storm", which resonated on a light disco that accompanied them to the last stretch of the route, about 18 kilometers approximately from Maimon to the beach popularly known as the "Playa de Camacho, in the upper part of this city.

During the walk, the provisions were taken, so that at least three units of the National Police, members of a private security company that regularly provides free services to cultural and religious events, an ambulance, in case of any inconvenience, They protected the participants.

While the traffic in that section of the boardwalk was made difficult by the crowds of people who walked on foot, as well as in passolas and motors.

Ta on the boardwalk, people with images of saints and rosaries prayed and raised their hands while the pilgrim prayed in the water, without being able to even hear his prayers, since he did not have a microphone where he was. Some of the people directly in the water, others in the sand and another group watching from the wall of the boardwalk watched the action.

Holding on to the faith for the most believers, and in a waste of ignorance and recklessness for the most skeptical, this group of people clung to the cross with a Dominican flag on top to cry out for the disappearance of the pandemic that has already caused more than 200 thousand deaths in the world and 278 in the country, according to official figures.

"So I asked God that as a mime he told me what was going to happen in 2020, to tell me that he could tell humanity and the Dominican country now, thus having the signs and closeness to God to take a very heavy log and to deposit it on the waters of the Puerto Plata sea, so that our country would be freed from the disease and many countries in the world, "proclaimed Mildomio Adames yesterday in Maimon, as part of his journey that began in his native Villa Altagracia and that on several occasions he has done the same at Easter for different reasons.


Not the first time in this crisis that religious gatherings have multiplied the spread.

Looks like the pastor responsible has travelled from Villa Altagracia, north of Santo Domingo in San Cristobel province where there was a cluster of cases, through the part of the country with most cases per percentage of population to PP. A probable disaster in the making thanks to this misguided idiot who should be locked up along with the whole town like Duarte and quickly.

Where is the military or the police?

Ducketts

ducketts wrote:

Where is the military or the police?

Ducketts

Helping according to Listin Diario article translated above:

https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2 … -peregrino

The virus is going to be super happy that this pastor has given it a free ride from one infected area Villa Altagracia to another POP and brought out the crowds so it can jump around at pleasure to new and more hosts quickly.

Prior to his visit to this town, Adames ventured into the municipalities of Imbert, Altamira, and slept last night at the Nuestra Señora de la Milagrosa parish, in the town of Maimón.

According to the pilgrim, when he introduces the cross wood into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean in Puerto Plata, the advance of COVID-19 in the country will begin to decrease.

From Puerto Palta the pilgrim intends to continue later to San Francisco de Macorís and Cotuí.

Adames left with his pilgrimage from Santo Domingo (Villa Altagracia) on the 20th of the current.


He certainly believes in spreading the virus wide and far.

What total nuts and selfish

They should have brought in the military and disbanded them or shoved in jail.  The police are quick to react to small  gatherings and put people in prison but not large crowds.  They clearly are scared.

They really need to learn about crowd controls, police on horse back etc

Ducketts

His lead vehicle was pro used by the mayor of Puerto Plata on his second day in office.

The president needs to start charging people!!!  Ignorant idiots - referring to those in charge!

Watch the numbers over the next two weeks!

Always hate to have to see the use of police and military for breaking up or maintaining order but in this case they should have and they should have used fire trucks to scatter the people and also detained the individual at the center of it.....I get the feeling even around here in Moca that people are getting tired and more lackadaisical . I carry my old hiking cane when I go to places like Caribe Express which is like three times at the end of the month and I enforce my space - outside in line - inside they do - and it causes some in line a little bit of upset......but I see more  and more out during these quick trips, and in massive lines to some businesses like Claro or Edenorte. IF anywhere, police could be enforcing government decree of SD in those places......

2VPSoldier, in his bulletin report yesterday the Health Minister mentioned that Moca (2.2% of cases in country) was a hot spot for the virus, so take extra care.

Government response to what happened in Puerto Plata yesterday:

High Level Commission condemns massive activity in Puerto Plata

April 26, 2020Minister MontalvoSpeeches Institutional Portal

The High Level Commission for the prevention and control of the coronavirus, on behalf of the government of the Dominican Republic, strongly condemns the massive activity held today in Puerto Plata and reminds the local authorities and the entire population of the express prohibition to carry out any type of activity that involves the agglomeration of people as well as the permanence in the streets without due social distancing.

We recall that these prohibitions have been established with the sole objective of protecting the life and health of people and that this must be, at all times, our highest priority.

We understand, therefore, that it is an act of very serious irresponsibility on the part of those local authorities who have not only allowed but also encouraged participation in this activity. A capital recklessness that involves great risk for the population in the present scenario of a pandemic that we are experiencing.

It is also unacceptable that the police authorities of the province adopted a passive attitude towards what was happening. Given this, the director of the National Police has ordered an exhaustive investigation to determine responsibilities and impose sanctions on whom it may concern.

I also want to point out that, in flagrant violation of the agreements reached by 911 with local governments, yesterday in Imbert and today in Puerto Plata 911 ambulances were used in the activities carried out. We recall that these ambulances were transferred under contract to the mayors for the national emergency and security system for use exclusively in emergency care.

We also inform that the High Level Commission is in permanent session to evaluate the situation and will announce in the next few hours the specific plan to respond to the possible consequences derived from what happened.

Of course, we respect the faith of Dominicans, however, it is important to emphasize that government decisions in the current context are based on scientific evidence and prudence, following protocols and examples that are giving tangible results throughout the world. world. That should be our only guide at this time and we cannot make exceptions in this regard.

Therefore, we will not allow unilateral actions that go against the common good and that ignore the established restrictions. The government will act with rigor in the event of any violation thereof.

We are moving in the right direction, slowing down the advance of the virus and the speed of contagion. However, we know that violating the measures that have allowed us to progress could lead us to situations of serious danger, skyrocketing the number of cases.

For all these reasons, we make a new call to all of society to reflect and strictly respect the established measures. Do not leave the house except as strictly necessary, respect the curfew, keep the physical distance of one and a half meters, cover your face and avoid crowds at all costs.

Do it for your health and for everyone's, because that is the only certain way to get out of this situation together.

Thank you

A SFM lockdown with military  I hope.

Word, word & words.

Why did the Gov not bring in the military immediately and quash these demos.  Because they were frightened to do so.  These are double standards from a Gov which is clearly failing in its objectives to contain this wretched virus.

Ducketts

Lockdown all across from where he accumulated followers to the finish! 

I suggest that all authorities complicit in this be forced to work one month at the Puerto Plata public hospital.  Let them see first hand the consequences of their actions!

It is to bad that common sense can't be part of the heard mentality. Only when someone close in there family or close friends die from Covid-19 will the light be switched on. My X has had her sister die from it just last week.

The failure was on the regional and local government who turned a blind eye to a person who has some considerable following in a country steeped in religious superstitions.

Any military type action would have lead to a far worse situation with widespread rioting. DR is not Europe or North America and the culture is far different.

It should never have been allowed to start in the first place and the regional managers and politicians who turned a blind eye and even supported this so called prophet. The suspensions of officials us beginning with PP police chief suspended.

The PRM who took office in the municipalities concerned a day before are trying to politicize this absolute failure by suggesting the so called prophet supported Danilo back in 2015, rather than censure their administrations for giving support.

Stan I am sorry for her loss.  Its tragic.   I have lost  3 people I know and care about!

The actions needed to stop this goes back several days.  I saw videos of him days ago, walking, dragging his wood and attracting followers. no mask. no social distancing. NO actions to stop him or constrain him.  Authorities allowed it and MUST be held accountable.  ALL across the board.

And of course the authorities in Puerto Plata, the new mayor,  police commanders,  politur,  nacional police, etc etc etc.  They ALL need to be held accountable. 

and now it must be managed as best they can.  Again, I suggest locking down the area, every area where he had prolonged contact with people.  Every town and city he stopped in, contacts he made must be quarantined and checked on!   

According to the news he has tested positive using the quick test and awaiting results for the normal test!  And now the whole area needs to be quarantined.  Sorry people.

Lennoxnev - Yes, definitely we are. My wifes daughter, who manages a private Lab ( is a lab tech) keeps us abreast of what she hears locally plus provides us with masks and hand disinfectant. When I do have to go out, folks around me are directly kept back by me - only one person got a little excited but remain his distance. The most I or my wife go out is for items at local store or Jumbo - where they enforce SD in lines outside and in.....only complaint is that one liquor store that sells Crown Royal and Jameson Irish whiskey remains closed....sigh...cheers!

Bulletin #39:

Total Confirmed Cases: 6293         Increase: 158
Total Deaths:                     282         Increase:    4   
Total Recovered:              993         Increase:   83
Total Active Cases:          5018        Increase:   71
Total ICU:                            143                       
Total PCR Tests:               23485      Increase:  987

In Detail:

DN                                                +26
SD                                                 +38
Santiago                                      + 20
Duarte                                          + 7
La Altagracia                               + 4
La Romana                                  + 4
Puerto Plata                                + 5
La Vega                                         + 8
Maria TS                                       +4
Hermanas M                                +2
Samana                                        +1
SPM                                               +4
Monsignor N                               +2
Espaillat                                        +1
San Juan                                       +9
Sanchez Ramirez                        +2
San Cristobel                               +9
Azua                                              +2
Peravia                                          +3
Monte Cristi                                 +4
Baoruco                                        +1
Elias Pina                                      +1

The Minister of Health during his briefing today was visibly upset and angry at the actions yesterday in Puerto Plata and placed the blame firmly on the jurisdictions in that province calling them lazy.

He cited that there was no such chaos as the so called pilgrim (bum as google translating his words) passed through Bonao nor Santiago (which of true is some relief).

He indicated that an epidemilogical cordon would be placed around PP. For all or expat members living on the North Coast, remember Sosua and Cabarete are in the PP province so it may affect you in some way.

Minister of Health blames the authorities of Puerto Plata for the march

https://www.elcaribe.com.do/2020/04/27/ … la-marcha/

The Minister of Public Health, Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas blamed the municipal authorities of Puerto Plata for the massive march led yesterday by a pilgrim in that municipality, in violation of the quarantine established by the Government to cut the chain of transmission of the coronavirus.

He called for drastic sanctions for the sponsors of "that bum."

"Yesterday, all citizens could see the great disorder that took place in Puerto Palta in the midst of the declared state of national emergency, sponsored and mobilized by those who today are denied participation and involvement in that massive rally that was organized on the occasion of the arrival of the pilgrim to Puerto Plata ”, he expressed outrage prior to releasing bulletin 39 on the situation of the coronavirus in the country.

We recommend:  Government condemns march in Puerto Plata

In this sense, he stated that Santiago and Bonao saw the pilgrim pass, however, there was no disorder and the violation "that occurred flagrant to the law" that occurred in Puerto Plata, not only the state of emergency, but also , to Law 15 in its numerals 21 and 28, which sanctions elective and designation officials when changes occur in states of emergency.

Sánchez Cárdenas recalled that administrative and criminal responsibility is compromised in that law, for which he said that he will not remain silent in the face of this situation "of sponsored collective disorder, even in violation of the provincial church."

"Those who attended have been claiming that they have nothing to do with it. The siren that you heard is not from 911, but from some donated trucks made available to the local City Council and that were activated and accompanied during all that protest, like the sound teams that organized, not a religious procession, but, a truly political activity ”, he assured.

More coming soon ....

https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2020/04/27/614968/colocaran-cordon-epidemiologico-en-puerto-plata-luego-de-la-concentracion-con-el-peregrino

https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2020/04/27/614971/ministro-de-salud-aboga-por-acciones-penales-o-administrativas-para-los-patrocinadores-del-desorden-en-puerto-plata

Great post

It's all very well this minister and that minister saying all this.  Why on earth did they not react immediately yesterday to these idiots.  Because they were frightened.  It's clear they have no experience of crowd controls and riots, which is what this was.  Now as you say others on the North coast will be further "imprisoned" due to their total lack of action.  It is the Gov who is responsible-words are just not enough.

Ducketts

The MoH are starting to give more detail where the covid19 cases are in provinces:

In Santo Domingo province  Boca Chica 5 , Los Alcarrizos 13, Pedro Brand 1 and San Antonio de Guerra 2.

Santo Domingo East  536 cases; Santo Domingo North 245 and Santo Domingo West 331.

In Puerto Plata: Imbert 1; Luperon 1; Puerto Plata 179; Sosúa 10 and Villa de Monte Llano 2.

Very helpful

Ducketts

lennoxnev - when this crisis passes and we are able celebrate our freedoms again, it will be my pleasure to meet and provide a refreshment of your choice for the super service you have so aptly provided. Thanks so much...(in the meantime,I'll I'll just raise a toast to you daily)

Couldn't agree more.  Well said that man

Ducketts

ANÁLISIS ESTADÍSTICO DE LA EVOLUCIÓN
DEL VIRUS EN LA REPÚBLICA DOMINICANA   INFORME #33


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oGYoMm … Qassy/view

I am in!  Lennox you have done a great job.  Not only will I buy you drinks, hell I will suggest we double your salary!!! 

Seriously, thank you!

As most may know Puerto Plata got put on lockdown last night. One report says province but the rest said the city.

Travel in and out of Puerto Plata is restricted.  Travel inside the city is restricted!  Military and police are enforcing!   7 days with possibility of longer!  And actively looking for cases and quarentining.

I feel sorry for those who did not take part in Sundays mess, but this was and is needed.

https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias/gob … cion-por-7

Government official site says municipality of Puerto Plata.