COVID-19

Two people tested positive for COVID-19 after undergoing rapid tests upon entering the country through Las Americas International Airport (AILA) in the last five days.

So far, nearly a thousand rapid tests have been carried out at the airport to detect possible people infected by the virus, which are done randomly when the flow of passengers is greater, so as not to affect flight operations.

According to data obtained, so far only five percent of passengers who have entered the country through AILA have arrived with their certified COVID-19 PCR test, issued by international laboratories, according to Listín Diario.

Those travelers who show written certification of having received the test before the last five days have been exempt from the application of the test.

As for the rapid test taking procedure, it begins when the military and security authorities randomly choose the passengers, immediately they get off the planes, complying with due protocol.

The tests are carried out on travelers at the initiative of the High-Level Commission for the Prevention and Control of Coronavirus, since last July 30, with the aim of stopping the advance of the pandemic

Passengers who have received the exam have arrived at the terminal from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Newark, New York, Miami and other nations,

In relation to those travelers who test positive for the disease, they are retained by military and public health personnel, who transfer them to a specialized isolation center where they receive adequate treatment.

In this sense, Luis José López, corporate communication director of the company Aeropuertos Dominicanos XXI (Aerodom) explained that there is a team made up of about 15 military doctors working on the process.

“Right now everything is going well. The passengers have shown collaboration and are aware of the difficult situation that the country and the world are experiencing due to this pandemic, "he stressed.

In addition, the Aerodom spokesperson pointed out that prior to the examination, travelers receive a form from the Immigration and Public Health personnel, which they have to fill out in order to follow up in the event that they test positive for the virus.

https://www.arecoa.com/aeropuertos/2020 … -positivo/

WOW,  so   2 have tested positive! WHAT ABOUT EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THE PLANE WITH THEM????    Are they not forced into a  14 day quarantine? OR just left to run around the country  possibly spreading what they caught on a damn plane!

Sorry this just pisses me right off. As one of the people following the rules and taking precautions this is just NOT acceptable.

This is total nonsense.

You stated:

"Those travellers who show written certification of having received the test before the last five days have been exempt from the application of the test".

As you know the incubation period can be between 2-14 days.
There should be NO flights from countries like the US where everything appears out of control.
Flight corridors should be in place agreed between DR and those countries who have at least reasonable control of this virus.  There should be proper Trace & Track of every single passenger entering DR just like EU countries are applying to passengers arriving in their countries i.e. just had first hand experience of this in Spain.

Sadly I'm not filled with any confidence

Bulletin #140

Total tests                       76536     Increase     876
Total deaths                      1246     Increase       24
Total recovered              40539     Increase     417
Total active                      34751    Increase      435
Total tests                       281926   Increase     3491     Day positivity    25.1%

Spread of new cases:

DN                                             287
Azua                                              4
Baoruco                                      39
Duarte                                         13
Espaillat                                        8
La Altagracia                               47
La Romana                                   8
La Vega                                        32
Maria TS                                       11
Monte Cristi                                 1
Pedernales                                  100
Puerto Plata                                  3
San Cristobal                                8
San Juan                                        1
SPM                                               20
Sanchez Ramirez                         34
Santiago                                        68
Santiago R                                      7
Valverde                                         2
Monsenor N                                  7
Monte Plata                                   10
San Jose                                          4
Santo Domingo                           143
Not Specified                                 19

With the chaos in testing reported in the press with 20k tests pending the National Laboratory alone, and similar problems elsewhere we are not seeing the real picture now in DR but a snap shot of the sitiation  a couple of weeks ago.

I am just not  having an confidence anymore in the process,  at all!

Instead of what was the norm which was consistent test numbers daily with a drop on tuesdays, we are getting large variations in test numbers and big spikes in different areas and fluctuating positivity.

The minister is now saying we are at the plateau (meseta), yet we see big daily peaks all around the country - one day here, one day there. And he also says the recovered are more but we know there are 20k tests awaited in DN alone from weeks back.

The daily figures give little confidence. Without proper testing the government is blind to reality.

All we know is that there are loads wanting tests, hospitals are stretched, ICUs are near full and medics are worried.

Exactly!   We cannot for one second believe the politicians!

High-level Commission will propose to President Medina an extension of the curfew

https://noticiassin.com/comision-de-alt … -de-queda/

Nothing official yet.

So people on the street think it ends this Sunday night and nothing will be done because August 16. Covid will disappear!   They think it is a govt creation and hoax

Bulletin #141

Total cases                    77709    Increase     1173
Total deaths                    1259    Increase         13
Total recovered            41393    Increase       854
Total active                     35057   Increase       306
Total tests                     286128   Increase      4202   day positivity    28%

Spread of new cases:

DN                                      266
Azua                                       3
Barahona                             31
Duarte                                119
Elias Pina                              24
El Seibo                                   1
Espaillat                                  5
La Altagracia                         85
La Romana                           15
La Vega                                  29
Maria TS                                12
Pedernales                              1
Peravia                                    6
Puerto Plata                          33
Hermanas M                         10
Samana                                   2
San Cristobal                          14
San Juan                                  6
Sanchez Ramirez                   10
Santiago                                 176
Santiago R                               30
Monsenor N                            14
Santo Domingo                      102
Not Specified                          171

It's probably Medina's last task!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Presidente Danilo Medina extiende el toque de queda en todo el territorio nacional por 25 días a partir del 9 de agosto de 2020, revisable por las nuevas autoridades que tomarán posesión el 16 de agosto de 2020".

President Danilo Medina extends the curfew throughout the national territory for 25 days as of August 9, 2020, re viewable by the new authorities that will take office on August 16, 2020.

Much needed and imo it won't be the last. And I believe more measures are needed because until the spread is reduced, the economy and tourism will continue to suffer as we are seeing.

Society needs to understand that this virus will not be stopped spreading and affecting more lives until either people take measures voluntarily to stop spread - and in Santo Domingo DN they are learning, or you put such measures in place forcefully.

Bulletin #142

Total cases                 78778    Increase     1069
Total deaths                 1289    Increase         30
Total recovered         42538    Increase      1145
Total active                  34951   Decrease       106
Total tests                  290267   Increase      4139     day positivity    25.9%

Spread of new cases:

DN                                         215
Azua                                          8
Baoruco                                  12
Barahona                                93
Dajabon                                   17
Duarte                                      28
Elias Pina                                   2
El Seibo                                     8
Espaillat                                    7
La Altagracia                           37
La Romana                              15
La Vega                                   112
Maria TS                                    12
Monte Cristi                              2
Peravia                                      15
Puerto Plata                             33
Hermanas M                             3
Samana                                     2
San Cristobal                           48
San Juan                                   10
SPM                                           20
Sanchez Ramirez                     11
Santiago                                   178
Valverde                                     1
Monsenor N                             12
Monte Plata                               2
Hato Mayor                               1
Santo Domingo                        95
Not Specified                            70

71% in provinces outside Santo Domingo.

We won't get a true picture until the testing dealys are resolved, but the provinces have problems which show up from time to time in big numbers.

3 death in Las Terrenas last 15 days

I am very suspicious of the numbers being reported. A friend who has just moved into a hospital he calls end of life. He has been suffering cancer and been under care in his own home for months. I wanted to visit him and says he cannot have visitors, he is covid suspicious. This is complete BS.

I believe the big delays in testing  are in the big cities,  SD and Santiago.  That is where the numbers seem to be lower by %  then before.

Stan they are limiting all vistors in hospitals for fear of anyone bringing it in OR catching it there.

Yes, delays in testing and reporting the figures are problems and for sure there are some very serious problems around the country which are not reported. Samana has had very little testing so I am not surprised at there being greater problems there.

The medical profession tell us the system is at collapse and I believe them.

Then we have the recent issue of Nagua. A massive understated problem which found it's way to mainstrem press and the minister was in denial at first. The virus in that town has destroyed economic life and businesses are only open for a few hours daily. This could happen throughout DR soon. This virus destroys economies if left unchecked.

The action taken by the municipality of Nagua is refreshing and a model for other places because the government is in denial in its last days.

I expect the curfew to be with is for months with more harsh measures to come so we can perhaps have a better state of affairs in which to live in the late fall.

I hope you are right!  I hope the new govt does something!

Planner, that is more understandable, but to say he is covid suspicious does not pass in my opinion. I will monitor and his brother will tell me what goes on his DC.

planner wrote:

I believe the big delays in testing  are in the big cities,  SD and Santiago.  That is where the numbers seem to be lower by %  then before.

Businesses testing staff and jumping the queue? Or related to the very high recovered numbers posted over the last week and two negatives are needed for that.

DN has always had lower postive numbers compared to many provinces. Santiago is still posting high numbers and high positivity.

This is the social and economic damage that will result when you dont control covid19:

https://eldia.com.do/en-nagua-prohiben- … -la-tarde/

Expect more of this around the country.

Lennox private companies are paying cash for testing employees and yes jumping the line!   

Insurance and govt pay weeks and weeks in arrears!

planner wrote:

Lennox private companies are paying cash for testing employees and yes jumping the line!   

Insurance and govt pay weeks and weeks in arrears!

I bought a box of test kits and am giving tests to my employees every two weeks. Two have tested positive so far. I sent them home and they'll come back to work when then have two negatives two weeks apart.

What you will have bought will be a serelogy test kit which checks for antibodies.

There should be indicators showing if the patient has been infected recently, infected in  the past or is negative for the first time after infection or negative with no immune response or negative/positive uncertain.

They are by nature less reliable than the PCR test which needs special equipment and technicians to analyse the results and this takes time. But rapid tests can be useful to filter out the infected including asymptomatic. India uses them as a quick less expensive first screening of the population and then the uncertains get the more expensive and longer PCR test.

These rapid tests are not full proof and the norm is to have uncertain cases take the PCR test.

Here is one rapid test with details:

https://www.abbexa.com/coronavirus-covid-19-test

lennoxnev wrote:

What you will have bought will be a serelogy test kit which checks for antibodies.

There should be indicators showing if the patient has been infected recently, infected in  the past or is negative for the first time after infection or negative with no immune response or negative/positive uncertain.

They are by nature less reliable than the PCR test which needs special equipment and technicians to analyse the results and this takes time. But rapid tests can be useful to filter out the infected including asymptomatic. India uses them as a quick less expensive first screening of the population and then the uncertains get the more expensive and longer PCR test.

These rapid tests are not full proof and the norm is to have uncertain cases take the PCR test.

Here is one rapid test with details:

https://www.abbexa.com/coronavirus-covid-19-test

That is correct. The employees who have tested positive were sent to do the blood test which confirmed their status. Both have no symptoms but they're out just to be safe.

Blood tests are sereology tests.

The PCR test takes a swab form your nose or back of mouth. Thats where the virus makes home and spreads to your respitatory system and then to other organs. Hence the whole focus on disinfecting hands and not touching your mouth or nose and of course using face masks.

lennoxnev wrote:

Blood tests are sereology tests.

The PCR test takes a swab form your nose or back of mouth. Thats where the virus makes home and spreads to your respitatory system and then to other organs. Hence the whole focus on disinfecting hands and not touching your mouth or nose and of course using face masks.

Now that you mention it, I believe it was the swab test.  It's the test they do at the National Laboratory, a disaster in itself.

Bulletin # 143

Total cases               79732    Increase     954
Total deaths                1309   Increase       20
Total recovered        43744   Increase     1206
Total active                34769   Decrease      272
Total tests                 294039  increase      3722 day positivity 25.7%

Spread of new cases:

DN                                           220
Azua                                           15
Barahona                                    5
Duarte                                       19
El Seibo                                      1
Espaillat                                    13
La Altagracia                             32
La Romana                                21
La Vega                                      42
Maria TS                                      4
Monte Cristi                               1
Peravia                                       14
Puerto Plata                               23
Hermanas M                               1
Samana                                        8
San Cristobal                              10
San Juan                                      17
SPM                                              14
Sanchez Ramirez                         4
Santiago                                       286
Santiago R                                     1
Valverde                                       4
Monsenor N                                6
Hato Mayor                                 2
Santo Domingo                         107
Not Specified                              84

I don't understand these figures are so inconsistent.  Is it lack of testing?

Bulletin #144

Total cases                      80499    Increase    767
Total deaths                      1328    Increase      19
Total recovered              44910    Increase     1166
Total active                      34261    Decrease    418
Total tests                      297492    Increase    3453     day positivity    22.2%

Spread of new cases

DN                                    225
Azua                                     1
Baoruco                              8
Duarte                                19
Elias Pina                             1
El Seibo                                19
Espaillat                               11
La Altagracia                       54
La Romana                           5
La Vega                                 12
Peravia                                   4
Puerto Plata                          8
Samana                                 5
San Cristobal                       24
San Juan                               27
SPM                                       27
Sanchez Ramirez                  8
Santiago                               147
Valverde                                 1
Monsenor N                          2
Hato Mayor                           1
San Jose                                 4
Santo Domingo                    128
Not Specified                         26

Positivity is reported as being very high in most provinces yet lower day numbers:

https://es-la.facebook.com/SaludPublica … mp;theater

Saying the right things at least.

The first mission of the new government should be to reduce the contagion curve. For the good of the Dominican population and for the good of tourism. Much less infections, much more health and much more tourism.

The best advertising campaign is for the world to know that Dominicans, authorities and citizens, are fighting to fight this bloody pandemic with relish. Authorities investing in the media and health professionals and citizens setting an example of responsibility.

https://www.arecoa.com/destinos/2020/08 … -pandemia/

Bulletin #145

Total cases                   81094    Increase    595
Total deaths                   1346    Increase      18
Total recovered           45666    Increase    756
Total active                   34082    Decrease   179
Total tests                    300134   Increase    2642       day positivity    22.5%

Spread of new cases

DN                                  206
Azua                                 10
Duarte                              10
Elias Pina                           1
El Seibo                             4
Espaillat                            1
Independencia                2
La Altagracia                   11
La Romana                      14
La Vega                             33
Maria TS                            15
Monte Cristi                      52
Pedernales                         1
Peravia                              18
Puerto Plata                     24
Hermanas M                    2
Samana                             1
San Cristobal                    9
SPM                                  21
Sanchez Ramirez             3
Santiago                            26
Valverde                             2
Monsenor N                      7
Monte Plata                       1
San Jose                              1
Santo Domingo                118
Not Specified                      2

Wow looks like this govt has just given up even trying!

Bulletin #146

Total cases                   82224    Increase    1130
Total deaths                   1371    Increase       25
Total recovered           47095    Increase    1429
Total active                   33758    Decrease     324
Total tests                   304501    Increase     4367    Day positivity    25.9%

Spread of new cases

DN                                    360
Azua                                   23
Barahona                          61
Dajabon                              2
Duarte                                18
Elias Pina                             1
El Seibo                                1
Espaillat                               14
Independencia                    2
La Altagracia                       35
La Romana                          11
La Vega                                 24
Maria TS                               13
Monte Cristi                         1
Peravia                                 12
Puerto Plata                        23
Hermanas M                        2
Samana                                 1
San Cristobal                       31
San Juan                               15
SPM                                        7
Sanchez Ramirez                 22
Santiago                               238
Valverde                                 2
Monsenor N                         21
Monte Plata                           2
Hato Mayor                            1
Santo Domingo                    422
Not Specified                       -235

It does appear the current authorities are more interested in presenting a better picture and focusing on recoveries. But the virus is well spread and testing limitations hide the true picture. The stories one hears of lots of infection in the capital barrios is worrying. But that may be the case in many towns now too.

They have also been trying to find cheaper quicker tests but that changes from PCR to seriology testing which is not so reliable.

As you may have read they do not test many of the international arrivals if at all. Arrive on a late flight and no one is there to test you.

Roll on the new authorities. This purple lot have let the situation get out of control.

Absolutely agree with you.

wooo woooo - after extreme time delays, Lily has just advised that my appointment to get my cedula/Temp Residency docs is ready with an appointment in one week.....

Congratulations!!!

Bulletin #147

Total cases                      83134   Increase     910
Total deaths                      1393   Increase       22
Total recovered             47946    Increase     851
Total active                     33795   Increase        37
Total tests                     308187   Increase    3686     Day positivity     24.7%

Spread of new cases:

DN                                      278
Azua                                       7
Duarte                                  31
El Seibo                                20
Espaillat                                8
La Altagrcia                          14
La Romana                           17
La Vega                                 29
Maria TS                                 1
Peravia                                   22
Puerto Plata                          13
Samana                                  1
San Cristobal                        41
San Juan                                18
SPM                                        18
Sanchez Ramirez                    8
Santiago                                137
Santiago Rodriguez               21
Valverde                                   4
Monsenor N                             5
Monte Plata                             2
Hato Mayor                             3
San Jose                                   14
Santo Domingo                      118
Not Specified                           80

I've been puzzled why the daily case count has dropped quickly from near 2000 and the positivity from close to 40% over the past week or so.

We have read plenty about testing delays and problems and at the same time plenty of reported cases around the country.

I have just looked at a few figures for reports 144 to 147 and the following postivities can be established:

DN                      25.7%         1069 positive from 4140 tests
La Altagracia     34.8%           114 positives from  328 tests
La Romana       20.7%              47 positives from  227 tests
Maria TS            38.7%             29 positives from    75 tests   known hot spot
Samana            100%                 8 positives from      7 tests     !!
Puerto Plata     37.4%              68 positives from   182 tests
SPM                   39.3%             73  positives form    186 tests
Santiago            40.4%           548 positives from    1358 tests
Santo Dom       35.6%           786 positives from     2210 tests
Not specified    ?????            -127 positives  from         8 tests  ???

The take home for me is that the testing isn't happening enough outside the cities and the positivity is still very high.

Roll on Monday and maybe we start to see the real picture.