Transit permissions expanded amid COVID-19 slowdown

The Government ordered the change of curfew hours from Monday to Friday and Saturdays and Sundays.

The new provision, which will be in effect on Wednesday, January 27th until February 8th, is contained in decree number 37-21, released by the Vice President of the Dominican Republic, Raquel Peña, during a press conference of the Health Cabinet at the National Palace, which he presides.

The decree establishes that from Monday to Friday the curfew will be from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., Monday to Friday, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 5:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. the early morning, with three hours of free movement in the two types of schedules.
The new provision will be reviewed once the stated date has concluded.

According to the new schedules, Monday through Friday people will be able to go to their residence until 10:00 at night, and Saturdays and Sundays until 8:00 at night.

The Health Cabinet also ordered, in addition, that the restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and gyms will be able to receive clients in their facilities in 60% of their total capacity.

The vice president warned that businesses that do not adhere to the established hours will be closed.

Outdoor spaces such as parks and boardwalks may also be used for activities that do not involve crowds of people and that to guarantee these measures, the presence of health guards or covid 19 inspectors was established in said spaces.

The decree maintains the same provision regarding the churches, which may carry out their activities three times a week.

Likewise, the decree maintained the schedule established in the public sector, which will be until 3:00 in the afternoon, with 40% of the personnel in the different institutions.

Vice President Raquel Peña made the announcement of the new curfew hours in the company of the other members of the Health Cabinet, the Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Carlos Luciano Díaz Morfa; Plutarco Arias, Minister of Health; Dr. Mario Lama, director of the National Health Service, among others.