COVID-19

https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/policia-nacional-justifica-cierre-de-los-puentes-estas-medidas-seran-las-24-horas-GH17985715

National Police justifies closure of bridges: "These measures will be 24 hours"

The state security forces justified on Monday the closure of the bridges that connect Santo Domingo Este and the National District as a tightening of the control measures at the entrance and exit against the coronavirus COVID-19.

Police spokesman Colonel Frank Durán Mejía said that the measure seeks to stop the chain of contagion of the coronavirus that has already caused more than 30 deaths and more than 800 infected throughout the national territory.

"For people this will be very traumatic, but it is necessary and they must understand the situation. These measures will be 24 hours and we must abide by them for the good of all. It is a way of protecting citizens and preventing contagion from continuing," said Durá. Mejia.

He n0ted that these actions are carried out in conjunction with the Armed Forces.

"But I repeat, they are part of the control measures that the Government has ordered within the quarantine that seeks to stop, stop the chain of contagion."

In addition, he added: "I want to tell the citizens that these measures are not for the curfew. No, never. These measures seek to strengthen the quarantine, only,"

Beginning to look like police and military are taking the action.

I wonder if we hear of more restrictions on movement around the country?

Duckets is your insurance from here or international?    Insurance here will cover it,  international insurance MAY NOT cover anything to do with the pandemic.  Double check your policy

Checkpoints to control entry and exit to the provinces
[i]
The Defense Minister, Paulino Sem, explained that the checkpoints that have been placed this Monday at the entrances and exits of the National District and Santo Domingo were arranged “to control the passage of people who do not have to transit the streets in the working days, you know that many people go out to wander ”.[/i]

No 24 hour curfew yet. Just rumours...official.

https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/ … MH17986138

Thanks,  checkpoint.  Interesting  phrase they use.

Thank you Planner

I'll check but it's an international policy.  They sent me the claim forms but said the banks and insurance companies are checking whether this will be covered under the pandemic rules

Thanks

Ducketts

Confirmed total cases is 901 and increase of 42, with deaths up to 42 an increase of 3 and 4 recovered.

https://noticiassin.com/defensa-restringe-transito-en-santo-domingo-y-otras-provincias-para-controlar-contagio-comunitario/

SANTO DOMINGO.- In addition to Santo Domingo and the National District, other provinces are having checkpoints to limit the unnecessary movement of people and with this reduce the possibility of contagion of the coronavirus in the country, a disease that until Friday afternoon registered 39 deaths and 859 confirmed cases.

The information was offered by Rubén Darío Paulino Sem, Defense Minister, who also clarified that this does not mean an extension of the curfew.

"Today, different checkpoints were made at the entry and exit points of the District and of Greater Santo Domingo and thus in various provinces to limit the entry to these provinces of people who do not have to travel on the streets on days working days ”, explained Paulino Sem.

The minister said "there are many people who go out to the streets to wander and our mission is to try to control that the coronavirus does not continue to be transmitted in a community way."

Today, the Juan Pablo Duarte and Prof. Juan Bosch bridges that connect the National District with Santo Domingo Este presented vehicle congestion due to the partial closure of the road that the officers made to verify the justification with which the drivers were driving.



Take note.

Thanks for posting!   

I have been trying to file all my documentation with the Ministry of Work and the Ministry managing support programs. You can imagine what a MESS this is.

So first they said you have to file the paperwork in person.  Ummmmm Pandemic, social distancing... hello!!

Now they say you can email the applications and support documents. Okay   to whom do we email them????

Yup there is a lack of coordination with all the programs.  First hand experience -  they  have no idea what they are doing.   I will continue to update whatever I find out.

Quick summary of where the increases announced today were from (I expect that being a Sunday some numbers could possibly be included tomorrow). We should always look at trends over a few days too.

DN and Santo Domingo 5 each, Duarte 7, La Altagracia 8 and La Romana 6, Peravia 3, San Juan and Sanchez Ramirez 2 each with one in SPM, San Cristobel and Azua.

Communities all over DR are beginning to take matters into their own hands and blocking access into their communities.

https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/ … EG17996570

7 towns in the east here.

Cabrera apparently

Sabana de Grand Boya in Monte Plata province according to family there

San Jose de Ocoa as press

Constanza as press

Santiago mayor wants his city sealed off.

The Presidential committee met this morning so expect to hear more shortly.

Yes, Cabrera....

Closed from west of Abreu (the nudist former colony) to east of Payita

Residents may come/go.... if you can prove it
Cedula needed I expect

Press conference apparently at 5 pm today. Let's see what the president says

Total cases now 1109 and increase of 208.

I think we should look at this combined with yesterday's increase when the count was very low(the Sunday effect) so over two days we have seen an average increase of 125.

Deaths up to 51. Increase of 9.

Today's increases:

DN                                           81
Santo Domingo                     39
Santiago                                  25
Duarte                                     4
Puerto Plata                           12
La Vega                                    17
Maria Trinidad Sanchez         2
Hermanas Mirabel                  1
Samana                                     3
SPM                                          1
Monsignor Noeul                  8
Espillat                                     7
Sanchez Ramirez                    1
San Cristobel                           4
Hato Mayor                             1

Review with yesterdays numbers for better picture.

DN steadying
Santo Domingo  greater including San Cristobel increasing  slowly
Cibao provinces around Duarte increasing including Santiago
Puerto Plata  increasing
Watch East Coast and Samana.

The MoH have a better idea where the problems lie through the tests to date. So this is a guide

Yes that is a brutal increase over two days. Clearly this is not under control of any kinds.

The president did not appear yesterday, let see if anything more happens today!

Apparently there is a good number of people out and about today.  Some wandering the streets -  going for walks in group - many wandering through the stores taking their sweet time as they are bored.  I get it.  But we cannot be doing this.

Social distancing is out biggest tool at this point in time and clearly the population does not get it.

As I read it -- SD isn't complying very well

Not too bad here in Cabrera.... all in all

They arrest thousands every night .... in SD? STI? Macoris?
can't say

All major cities have arrests.  Biggest numbers greater Santo Domingo, Santiago,  and other cities

He's stating the obvious. it took China 6 weeks with extreme lock down. We have more weeks of this to come.

Medical Advisor to the Executive Power says that the DR has not reached the peak of contagion of Covid-19

https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/ … BI18016632

At least we are not seeing the rapid expansion like in other countries nor a big spike but it is early days.

Official data shows a lower incidence of COVID-19 infections in the Dominican Republic
Statistics specialist warns of the need to strengthen isolation

https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/ … AI18015885

The daily breakdown indicated a growing problem in La Vega Province and indeed all the Cibao. POP and Tourist towns now are risks of growth. and need watching.

In La Vega, 65 cases of coronavirus and two deaths are confirmed
It is an increase of 35% compared to the report of the previous day

https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/ … MI18015999

You can google translate the articles.

The MoH statisticians will have more detail than is made public but what we can glean from the daily numbers tells us how quickly the numbers are doubling in each province. I think this is a good guide to where problems may be:

DN is doubling now every 5 days         235/273/321/376/381/462  was every 3 days
SD rest                                 3.5 days     55/66/79/101/106/145
Santiago                               4.5 days     57/66/90/97/97/122
Duarte                                    5 days       43/59/65/83/90/94         SFM isolated
La Altagracia/La Romana    3.5 days    16/19/30/36/50/50
Puerto Plata                          <3 days      7/11/13/16/16/28
La Vega                                  3 days         11/16/33/48/48/65     Monsignor Noeul 3 days, Espillat 3 days too

We may not be testing to the same extent as would be ideal but the sampling results show where there may be problems ahead and where enforced self distancing and adherence works. Early days and a long road ahead. Try and encourage others to 'Stay at Home' and self distance when out for essentials plus hand washing and sneeze into tissues and dispose.

Excellent post, thanks

Ducketts

Confirmed cases increase to 1284 which is a daily increase of 175 with total deaths now at 57 and increase of 6.

Increases:

Santo Domingo DN               58
Santo Domingo rest              23
Santiago                                  16
Duarte                                      7
La Altagracia                           3
La Romana                              3
La Vega                                   19
Hermanas Mirabel                4
Samana                                   1
SPM                                          2
Monsignor Noeul                   8
Espillat                                     6
San Juan                                  2
Sanchex Ramirez                   3
San Cristobel                          8
Barahona                                4
Valverde                                  6        MoH saying increase today 4 but previously said total 2 cases
Monte Plata                            1
Monte Cristi                            1

Total increase in Santiago/Cibao 70

Any signs of a slow down?

Ducketts

No. 

And a continuation of people breaking the queda en casa and being arrested.  For everyone arrested you can imagine how many are out!

ducketts wrote:

Any signs of a slow down?

Ducketts

No, but we shouldn't expect that for maybe 4 more weeks of this type of lock down. We are not seeing a big spike either even with a gradual increase in rate of testing, but increased rates of testing with quick results and free testing over the coming days may increase the numbers day by day for a period. But remember the protocol is you get tested if you have two or more symptoms.

There is community transmission in most places and so self distancing and curfew plus all the other measures must continue and in certain places increase measures.

All the provinces around SFM (Duarte) look to have problems especially La Vega. I read last week that the director of the big  hospital at El Pino was tested positive, and is south of La Vega and north of Bonao and close to road to SFM too and is used widely and could be a link to the Cibao spread.

Easter will be celebrated remotely and digitally due to COVID-19

https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/ … EK18033531

Church congregations have been worshipping remotely and digitally for the past 2 to 3 weeks already in DR so this comes as no surprise.

Semana Santa surely will not happen here this year as past years because there will be no transport to the provinces for starters and most workers are at home anyhow and people in the campo don't want people to come with the risk of contagion.

Of course that assumes that Danilo will extend the emergency powers which expire Friday until after Semana Santa.

This is an interesting read about how severe the measures taken by China were:

China’s zero contact: ‘It seems extreme. It works’

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/wor … 938374001/

This type of control could never happen in the west, but it did work and even if there are asymptomatic cases to be added to their numbers and there is a trickle of new cases, it shows that extreme measures will yield results relatively quickly..

Jarabacoa is a small community with quite a few long term expats living there and is part of La Vega province that has seen a spike in cases. Now we know there are cases there.

Jarabacoa records the first five cases of coronavirus

https://cdn.com.do/2020/03/29/jarabacoa … onavirus/#

I have friends who flew to Canada March 23.  On March 28 he was hospitalized with covid 19 and now in a drug induced coma, respirator and suffering from kidney failure.  He likely had it while here.  He likely unknowingly spread it to the taxi driver, the crowds at the airport and on the plane.

He is alone in the hospital.  His wife is home,.in quarantine and beyond herself.with worry.

They knock you out for the respirator - protocol

NO visitors - even on death

Yes I understand.  It's horrifying and heartbreaking.

Total confirmed cases is 1380 which is an increase of 96 in the past day. Death toll has increased by 3 to 60. Recovered 16. Therefore active cases is 1304.

Santo Domingo DN      +15
Santo Domingo rest     +22

Looks like Santiago has about 27 new cases and Duarte 9 based upon percentages reported.

No detail numbers yet other than given in media from live transmission.

https://noticiassin.com/obras-publicas-interviene-sectores-del-dn-con-descontaminacion-masiva/

Public Works intervenes sectors of the DN with massive decontamination[b][/b]

SANTO DOMINGO.-  The Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) intervened this Wednesday ten sectors of the National District with its massive decontamination program to counter the spread of Covid 19 coronavirus.

The sectors and neighborhoods intervened by the disinfection personnel and teams are Cristo Rey, Capotillo, Simón Bolívar, Villas Agrícolas, Villa María, San Carlos, Gazcue, Don Bosco, and Las Praderas.

The day started at 5:00 in the afternoon and ended after 9:00 at night with the turbine trucks, London trucks with motor pumps, the tanker trucks that supplied the water with sodium hypochlorite to disinfect the entire area covered. .

This type of work was used in the province of Wuhan, Republic of China, which contributed to lower the number of infected.

In addition to the National District, disinfection operations have been carried out in Bonao, San Cristóbal and San Francisco de Macorís.

The disinfection operation in the district to reduce contagion was led by Minister Ramón Pepín, the Director of Social Management, Captain Luis Manuel Feliz José and the Director of the Military and Police Commission, Colonel Douglas Borrell.



I've read about some people doubting the value of mass disinfecting areas as above but we now know the virus can travel as droplets in the air for a substantial distance and this policy is gaining traction because it has worked in Asia.

Equally the use of face masks has now been shown to be beneficial and helped Asian countries to control spread (there are scientific studies after SARS confirming this) and may become policy in the USA shortly. It is already mandatory in DR to go into branded supermarkets to have face masks and plastic gloves (they often provide plastic gloves) and virtually all Dominicans are now using face masks everywhere when away from the home.

My car has been sprayed upon entering Cabrera & RSJ

Not me-- the car

More measures coming - this country is not resting on it's laurels....

https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/salud-publica-dice-se-tomaran-medidas-adicionales-para-enfrentar-el-covid-19-KM18051193

Public Health says additional measures will be taken to confront COVID-19
San Francisco was closed because it was the first district where there was community circulation, said Sánchez Cárdenas

The Minister of Public Health, Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas, reported this Thursday that in the next few days other additional measures will be taken to confront the COVID-19 pandemic , which has killed 60 people and 1,380 infected people.

In San Francisco de Macorís, where it has been established, Sánchez Cárdenas indicated that the number of cases has decreased, as in other provinces. So far, despite the growth in cases, "we are going in the right direction," the minister said during the virtual press conference.

Such measures could include the encirclement of other municipalities, said the minister, who maintained that the enforcing measures required for special municipalities are evaluating the way that each municipality has established infections to make decisions.

He indicated that they work in coordination with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to confront the COVID-19 pandemic.

https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/justicia/recogeran-basura-y-seran-multados-los-que-violen-el-toque-de-queda-PM18052739

Trash will be collected and those who violate the curfew will be fined
The attorney instructed prosecutors to proceed in each case

The Office of the Attorney General of the Republic (PGR) issued an order that people who commit a violation of the curfew are brought to justice for rebellion, will be fined and will be put to do public utility work such as garbage collection. .

In a communication from the Attorney General, the attorney general Jean Alain Rodríguez, specifies that the offenders may be subjected to "work of community interest in a state institution or non-profit organization, outside their normal hours of paid work, and must collaborate on all with the collection of garbage in coordination with the municipalities of each demarcation ”.

In giving the instruction to the public prosecutors, Jean Alain Rodríguez, he justified that the objective of these measures is to take care of the citizens, and save their lives. He took the opportunity to call on the population to respect the measures established by the authorities and to respect the National Police..............

https://twitter.com/PresidenciaRD/statu … 23/photo/1

Curfew and social distancing to continue for 15 more days following issue of decree as just posted on Twitter

https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/ … CM18055052

Daily increases:

DN                                               +15
SD rest                                        +22
Santiago                                      +21
Duarte                                         +9
La Altagracia                               +3
La Romana                                  +4
Puerto Plata                                +2
La Vega                                         +4
Maria Trinidad Sanchez             +2
Hermanas Mirabel                     +2
SPM                                               +3
Monsenor Noeul                        +2
Sanchez Ramirez                         +4
Barahona                                      +4

Cibao and Santiago with 42 of the cases.

Well he did as expected,  good.  Would not mind seeing it strengthened but lets watch and see.

the disinfecting is important. HOWEVER the issue is it needs to be done every  48 hours.  That is not going to happen. But I applaud each and every effort they are making!

William and all Cabrera residents be careful!!

https://costaverdedr.com/un-residente-de-la-capilla-en-el-municipio-de-cabrera-primer-muerto-por-covid-19-en-provincia-maria-trinidad-sanchez/

A resident of La Capilla, in the municipality of Cabrera, first killed by COVID-19 in María Trinidad Sánchez province

MARCH 31ST, 2020  COSTA VERDE DR LOCALES

Cabrera.- A man identified as Damian Bautista Reyes, just over 80 , who lives in Chapel section of this town, is the first person to death COVID-19 in the province of Maria Trinidad Sanchez.

His death would have occurred on Monday morning in a Nagua hospital, where he was taken in serious condition.

According to versions, the man was tested for the disease and came back positive.

This Tuesday the minister Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas reported that two new cases had been registered in the province, to total six infected, with one deceased.

Complaints of lack of information

Although the Minister of Health did not specify where in the death occurred, some personalities have demanded the provincial health authorities to specify the place of death, so that measures rather taken with those who had contact with the deceased to so that these people are isolated and examined.

There is even talk of a gentleman who was not identified, who would be the person who, without any protection charged to the infected computer to bring it to the hospital in Nagua.

Thanks J

an older type.... known news here...

Luckily, I doubt he was out & about much

Pretty good here