The President of the Republic, Luis Abinader, stated yesterday that the government is not yet considering taking restrictive confinement measures in response to the increase in COVID-19 cases reported in recent days.
SANTO DOMINGO - The president of the Dominican Confederation of Micro, Small and Medium Construction Companies (Copymecon), Eliseo Christopher, stated that yesterday more than 40 construction workers had to be sent home from their jobs due to exhibiting flu-like symptoms.
Similarly, those who showed symptoms and did not present negative PCR tests were not received in their work areas.
“We are recommending that those with flu or Covid symptoms not go to work, including heavy equipment workers and those working in regular construction, including master builders,” Christopher said.
He also stressed that despite the Covid-19 situation, construction should not stop, as the sector represents a major source of economic growth for the country.
Abinader confirms fifth wave
The President of the Republic, Luis Abinader, stated yesterday that the government is not yet considering taking restrictive confinement measures in response to the increase in COVID-19 cases reported in recent days.
The president, who participated in a meeting with the Health Cabinet, stated that, although the positivity rate has increased, the fatality rate has decreased.
“We continue with the meetings in permanent session, but in the meantime, with such a low level of lethality and with a low level of hospitalization, we still do not have any measures, as no other country in the world does,” he said.
According to bulletin number 655, the positivity rate on Monday was 44.23%, but the case fatality rate has decreased from 1.02% to 1.00%. 2,856 new infections were reported, representing a record high for daily cases, driven by the Omicron variant.
Health authorities report that 11,050 samples were processed, of which 6,294 were PCR and 4,756 were antigen tests. Two new deaths were reported.
“We are facing a fifth wave, but it is a fifth wave , although with greater contagion, with much lower lethality and also where a large part are asymptomatic and another part with very mild conditions of the disease,” Abinader said.
“Hospital occupancy is at 19%, meaning we don't have hospital stress. We do have many outpatients, and I'm informed in public and private hospitals that many people arrive with another condition and when they are tested, they have COVID, because they didn't know it since they arrived with another condition,” he explained.
The seven occasions with more than 2,000 cases
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been seven occasions in which more than two thousand daily cases have been reported: the 2,856 reported in bulletin 655 and 2,026 reported in bulletin 654.
The other five occasions were on July 25, 2020, with 2,012 cases during the first wave .
In the midst of the second wave , 2,043 cases were reported on January 3, 2021. On January 8, 2021, 2,106 cases cases were reported , and on January 29, 2,141 cases were registered.
Demand for vaccines is rising
On Monday morning, the effect of resolution 000069 began to be felt, which, added to the rise in cases of coronavirus and the conclusion of the New Year , motivated dozens of citizens to go to a vaccination center in search of their booster dose.
According to Dr. Alexandra Montero, supervisor of the VacúnateRD station at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center, the first people to be served were already in line from 6:00 AM.
“You have to take advantage and get that vaccine , it’s free,” said Francisco Sepúlveda, 66, who admitted that he preferred to wait until after the Christmas celebrations to get his third dose of the Covid vaccine .
Regarding PCR and antigen tests, it was necessary to set up a new sample collection point in the fencing pavilion due to the massive concentration in the Hall of Fame, which continues to operate with people arriving from 5:00 in the morning and receiving their results around 11:00 in the morning.
Texts taken from Diario Libre and El Día
