COVID-19

That's scary and surprising that you aren't seeing mask use. The stores and offices we have been visiting in LT are still requiring masks. People aren't wearing them on the street or in the open-air restaurants, but any time in an enclosed space we're seeing them.

Same when we were in Santo Domingo last week.

Once you get out of Santo Domingo DN and bigger stores in the towns, mask use is forgotten.

It was almost non existent in Cotui and Bonao this week and at big parada on Duarte where buses stop, only the staff were using them.

It will be six months since my second jab next week and I plan to get a booster as the next wave kicks in. Maybe unethical to some and I have been supportive of prioritizing vaccines for all first, but DR has a mountain of stored vaccine and 6 months is shown to be good timing. Alone I cant change what is happening here.

I think I will hold off the 3rd shot until 7 months....

April 1 was my 'finish' date..... so I qualify tomorrow
I will talk to the clinic this week for advice

There are studies out there showing antibodies have diminished to virtually zero at 6 months with Sinovac and a booster recharges them significantly 4 weeks after the 3rd shot. Six months seems the right time for this vaccine. Antibodies arent the only body defence with T and B cells also effective and there are few studies on these.

We simply dont know how long vaccines remain effective and it is the antibody count driving booster decisions.

Pfizer information is suggesting waiting a bit longer for the booster.

I do think DR panicked giving boosters so soon after 2nd shot and that has been proven to not maximise the benefit.

From what I have read 6 months seems good for sinovac. I am due for 3rd Astra zeneca late October. I will be getting it.

Yesterday the hostess / cashier at the restaurant had no mask.  One waitress had mouth covered and not her nose.  People walking around inside with no mask.  Grocery store mandated mask!  Smaller stores nothing in place!

Covid cases continue to rise; reported 592 in the last 24 hours

https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2 … s-24-horas

The Ministry of Public Health reported 592 cases of covid on Thursday, the highest number of infections reported since last July 21 when 611 positives were reported.

In epidemiological bulletin # 560, 5,657 samples with 592 positives were processed, for a daily positivity of 14.19%.

Regarding hospitalizations, the indicators are up, with 488 covid beds filled for 19%. While there are 178 in Intensive Care Units (ICU), for 29% and 100 delicate patients with ventilators, which represents 19%.

That is the only reason we are still where we are world wide, cause of stupidity of many!
Excuse my wording but i'ts simple the truth.

You said it just fine!!!!  I am in absolute agreement. Many of us are sick of doing what's right while others play with lives!   

Here we go again!

Thanks

You all hear the news on United letting go all the individuals that refused to get vaccinated, about time.

Day positivity up yet again to 18.89%

double post

oscarsahony wrote:

Thanks

You all hear the news on United letting go all the individuals that refused to get vaccinated, about time.

Very small percentage of the work force.... miniscule

The government has announced it will not seek a further extension to the state of emergency and consequently curfew across the whole of DR ends next Monday.

https://hoy.com.do/levantaran-desde-el- … -de-queda/

Well this is a mistake.  Numbers on the rise.  Good luck.

It was not being enforced and so became meaningless. The irony is that they kept a state of emergency in place when the virus was subdued and remove it as a new wave starts.

Curfew was very effective when transmission was high and it started early. Starting 11pm has little impact on most of us.

I do think vaccination, enforced social distancing and mask use would be better controls now. But the Health Law is weak so come what may.

I had my booster on Monday - a third Sinovac jab - and will continue to socially distance, wear masks and use disifectant gel when out amongst crowds and indoors in businesses and life will be virtually normal. It is already normal in the campo.

In the UK infections amongst children is a big problem, so the government plan here to allow children above 5 to be vaccinated is a good plan imo.

The timing of elimination of state of emergency and curfew could not be worse based upon todays numbers as daily cases creep up towards one thousand and day positivity is near 19%.

https://eldia.com.do/salud-publica-repo … os-nuevos/

The message will be misinterpreted and soon hospitals will climb to their limit again.

The alternative has to be enforced mask use and social distancing but I doubt it. Vaccine mandates would be a good move imo.

Schools will soon fuel the new wave.

How about we stick to discussing what's happening here in DR?

ddmcghee wrote:

How about we stick to discussing what's happening here in DR?

I have to agree with you on this subject.

DR is now going to enter a phase with growing covid19 cases and no state of emergency so not unexpectedly the politicians here are now talking again today about vaccine mandates to enter banks and malls etc and enforcement of the still remaining Health Law mask use and social distancing requirements.

DR was already well in advance of Singapore and Norway with loose covid19 travel restrictions but may now have to catch up (Singapore) on strict madatory mask use and (both) in the use of vaccine passports to enter places.

He is on vacation now. 

We are not allowing misinformation.

Let's stick to DR please. 

Our numbers are climbing fast.  Soon no curfew, not that there was much of one.

Mask use in some areas is good and in other areas almost nonexistent.  It's now everyone take care of yourselves and your loved ones and hope for the best!

Get vaccinated if you are not already.

Hello everyone,

I would like to inform you that a few off-topic posts have been removed from this thread.

Thanks,

Diksha
Expat.com

Before anyone jumps in stating this is not DR related, be aware that this has been reported in the Dominican mainstream press and is about the exact 3 vaccines in use in the Dominican Republic and the effectiveness of booster doses and I suspect many of the readers here will be interested in this large scale study. An AZ booster to those that have received two Sinovac shots appears to be the best booster albeit all results are very good in a country where Delta, Mua and Gamma circulate.

Third dose reduces the risk of severe disease by 96%, according to study

https://www.elcaribe.com.do/destacado/t … n-estudio/
....
The research, which considered a total sample of 11.2 million people, analyzed the effectiveness of administering a third dose in 2 million people who had completed their immunization schedule with the Chinese Coronavac, from the Sinovac laboratory, the majority in the country .

According to Rafael Araos, the academic who led the study and one of the advisers of the Ministry of Health, all the analyzed vaccines increased "significantly" the effectiveness to avoid the symptomatic disease with an extra dose.

“The data from this study reveals that the decision to use a booster dose is correct and correct for the prevention of COVID-19 in the country. The results are robust and suggest that the effect of the booster dose, with any vaccine, is highly effective in preventing COVID-19 and hospitalizations, ”said Dr. Rafael Araos........


If the moderator deems this is not sufficiently DR related then they can remove the post.

This is good useful information.

My point is if you are gonna discuss Covid and vaccines and not discuss studies in other countries you are truly missing what is going on. Covid is a global issue not DR specific.

If you are only allowed to post Covid health requirements from the DR government or the related that is fine as well.

Not my decision what should be allowed but my views.

They all seem pretty good..... better than pretty good!
Really good

Thx Lennox... I'll get mine when I return this week

MODERATORS: Please Respond
I think the moderators should delete/close any thread that has Covid information that is not a direct communication or link from a Government entity. That means ANY OPINION whether or not the original poster believes it to be fact should be deleted! I'm tired of EVERYONES OPINION and all should be able to make their own decision based strictly on official communication.

List the non DR related posts. Or do you mean non political posts not suiting your political bias.

Julien and team please note these problem makers.

totally agree.

We cannot limit to only govt posts.  That would mean no outside posts whatsoever and that's not helpful either. 

I believe opinions backed by facts are fine. Open discussion without name calling is fine.  Repeating debunked misinformation is not ok.  Promoting conspiracy theory is not ok.

And that's my opinion and only my opinion.  I am not the owner of this site.

Vaccination Centres are busy again:

Plan Nacional de Vacunación
Acumulados al 10 de Octubre de 2021

6,134,235
Primera dosis

4,973,191
Segunda dosis

1,017,795
Dosis refuerzo

12,125,221
Total dosis aplicadas

4,973,191
Población completamente vacunada

https://vacunate.gob.do/


Status of vaccinations as of 10th October according to Our World in Data for Dominican Republic is 45.4% fully vaccinated  and 56% with full dose based upon total population.

https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations

'Slow' Tuesday Bulletin from MOH to give you an idea how things are going with covid19 and POP may have a problem.

duplicate post deleted

Are you serious? Do you mean we should not opine as to the DR government edicts or information from the US CDC and other governmental sources?

planner wrote:

We cannot limit to only govt posts.  That would mean no outside posts whatsoever and that's not helpful either. 

I believe opinions backed by facts are fine. Open discussion without name calling is fine.  Repeating debunked misinformation is not ok.  Promoting conspiracy theory is not ok.

And that's my opinion and only my opinion.  I am not the owner of this site.

My only concern with your statement is who decides what the facts are? That has been a real issue not just in the RD but around the world as to who the arbitrators of truth are? I just happen to be skeptical of most, and especially those that continue to dominate talking points till those points become a battering ram against others that might have a different viewpoint. But hey, that’s just me.

The Dominican Republic is a "boots on the ground " country and if your boots are on the ground the story you hear, here,  is much different than what we are being fed on this forum...

If you feel DR has one of the best health care around then you listen to the government but for some reason all I hear and read are people worried about the healthcare n DR.

Have you been to a local hospital or clinic?

Basically in Santo Domingo and Santiago there are a few very good hospitals and clinics and a few good clinics in the resort zones.

Elsewhere dedicated, under paid staff and under resourced and poorly maintained public hospitals and clinics are the norm. Because lots of Dominicans cannot afford medical insurance and not many employers offer this perk.

Many expats live in a bubble and don't realize, hear and see real DR hospital situation and some are deaf to this cruel reality. Try living in Duarte, Monte Plata, Monsenor Nouel, San Cristobal and Sanchez Ramirez provinces for a change to understand the hospitals and clinics there and join the long waiting lines with no air conditioning.

DominicanadaMike wrote:

The Dominican Republic is a "boots on the ground " country and if your boots are on the ground the story you hear, here,  is much different than what we are being fed on this forum...

So please can you share everything that is much different in relation to what is being posted(fed) in this thread on covid19 from your 'boots on the ground' stories?

I would but no one wants to hear stories.  No scientific evidence, no story.

Personally, I am just tired of hearing about politics, religion, covid or sports.  All are ambiguous, confrontational and undermine this forum.  Of course it's your right and your opinion, I am simply saying enough is enough.  I said it before but I guess you weren't listening.

I enjoy this forum for all the shared insight about different locations, different experiences and people here in DR and listening about adventures in places that many people don't know exist.  Lots of knowledge about different projects, where to buy things, all great info.

Planner, working hard to bring insurance to the elderly here in DR.  A much needed and surely appreciated effort from her along with her many other great contributions to this forum.  I am certainly glad to see she is no longer the moderator, I much prefer her as a participant and contributor.  You just can't wear two hats and do it without causing a ruckus. IMO

I can read about the other stuff anytime I want to...

Let's just try to make this a better more interesting forum, shall we?

This is the COVID  thread. If you do not want to hear about COVID measures then dont read this thread honey.

Lots of other great threads.

And I prefer to be a contributor and only a contributor.

Question.....
Since I have not arrived in the DR, yet, but, am getting my info via this forum, could you give me an example of what is different from what I read and what boots on the ground are experiencing ??