Government reinforces curfew and includes mobility grace amid COVID-19
The Dominican Republic government reinforced the restrictive measures to counteract the spread of COVID-19 amid infections rebound and hospital occupancy registered in the last few weeks.
Through decree 698-20, President Luis Abinader modified the mode and hours of the curfew, according to geographic jurisdictions, repealing decrees numbers 504-20, 554-20, and 684-20 relative to said the restrictive measure, as well as its modifications.
The decree establishes that as of December 15th, the rules that govern according to the provinces and schedules are the following:
In the National District and the provinces of Santo Domingo, Santiago, Duarte, La Vega, and Puerto Plata, the curfew covers every day, from 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM.
However, people have a grace period until 9:00 PM to transit exclusively to their respective residences.
In the rest of the country, the curfew runs from Monday to Friday from 9:00 PM until 5:00 AM.
On Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays it is in effect from 7:00 PM until 5:00 PM.
As in the other provinces, on those days people will have grace until 9:00 at night to travel exclusively to their respective residences.
Christmas
Exceptionally, on December 24th and 31st, the curfew will apply throughout the national territory from 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM in public places and private places for public use.
In these two holidays, only, the grace to travel from private places to their respective residences will be until 1:00 in the morning of the next day.
Exceptions are maintained for people with a medical emergency who need to go to a health center or pharmacy, medical personnel, members of the press, private security, and those responsible for the distribution of goods such as fuel and food or medical supplies.
Metro and cable car
The Office for the Reordering of Land Transportation (OPRET), reported that it will extend the service hours of the Santo Domingo Metro-Cable Car Integrated Transportation System on weekends.
The Metro will work from Monday to Friday from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Likewise, the Cable Car will provide services at the same time, including Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 in the morning until 8:00 at night.
Likewise, the institution communicated through a press release that on December 24th and 31st both means of public transport will work from 6:00 in the morning to 8:00 at night. On December 25th and January 1st, it will be from 8:00 in the morning until 8:00 at night.
Cabinet
The Vice-President of the Republic, Raquel Peña, led a press conference of the Health Cabinet, where she explained that according to current epidemiological data the Dominican Republic country must anticipate measures to keep contagions under control during the days of the Christmas and New Year holidays.
“We know that it is not easy to ask for new sacrifices, but the pandemic still has a few months to go until the vaccine arrives. The Government is actively negotiating the delivery dates for the first batches”, highlighted the official, and emphasized that it will depend on all citizens, and not only the Government, that the measures are effective.
She added that among the measures provided is the increase in ICU beds available in the public and private sectors, as well as in tests and contact tracing through the Regional Health Services and the Provincial Health Directorates.
Finally, Peña made a call not to lower the guard and to maintain physical distancing and hand washing.
“To ensure compliance with hygiene measures, we will distribute masks and hand gel free of charge to all citizens,” he said.
Warning
The Director-General of the Police, Major General Edward Sánchez González, warned that this institution together with the Ministry of Defense will enforce the measures ordered by the Executive Power to counter the spread of COVID-19.
In this sense, he called on the population to comply with the measures on these Christmas and New Year festivities.
“We are calling for understanding, citizen awareness to contribute to the country so that the health issue is overcome”, he said.