COVID-19

It is beginning to look like cases have bottomed out and the next uptick is about to begin. We should know tomorrow if Delta is confirmed here too with genomic sequencing taking place locally.
Vaccination rates are slowing more and more.
Last 7 daily first vaccinations were: 1,353 (25.07), 14,352, 18094, 17,175, 15,688, 13,521, 5,054 (31.07). 5,543,146 - 47.6% first shot and 4,215,901 - 39% fully vaccinated based upon 10.8m total population.

We may have bottomed out.  Let's watch and see

Lennox, not only wont they...social distance, some even share body fluids!

I hope you haven't failed to understand that the aim is to keep the virus out of your airways. Body fluid transmission is not a concern from my readings. And because  Delta carries 1000 times more viral load, mingling indoors becomes challenging without masking up, with distancing alone not  limiting airborne transmission enough.

To re-emphasize, DR has less of its population vaccinated than the USA and Dominicans are less disciplined, so based on what we are seeing to the north of us, Delta is probably going to cause havoc here and to the unvaccinated especially.

Lennox, I meant that when we're sharing body fluids.....I mean , when THEY are.....air passages  tend to get entwined too.

I so got what you meant!!! 

My personal opinion -

DR is watching the TOTAL population....

I think they should focus on  Sto Dom - Sti- Pto Plata and Punta Cana

SDQ   STI have almost HALF the population..
Add POP and PUJ and you have it covered

THe people in the hills and fincas pose less problems - IMO

Control the source(s) and you control the problem

National numbers mean little to me

If the politicos had their way, all 4 of those locations would have no curfew now.

Mobility is the key word. The virus likes to hitch a ride to find more hosts.

So if Delta has flown into STI courtesy of a flyer, it could be anywhere in the Cibao now partaking in teteos there. Whereas in PUJ it probably has got trapped in an AI and wont move too far. Ditto arrivals to POP would be probably stay within 20 miles of that airport. Arrivals to SDQ on the other hand would be very mobile joining the capilista crowd and could be hitching rides to Samana and elsewhere.

Ring fence the airport zones might have made your idea work. Even after the horse has bolted, ask for PCR tests for all arrivals.

I think it is too late now and it will be what it will be countrywide until mobility has to be controlled again.

The Sunday teteo has begun here and I am sure elsewhere and everywhere in the nation. Hundreds, maybe a thousand plus spreader events today.

Sadly you are likely right.  I think it arrived some time ago and soon we will see.

How does anyone know they have delta variant covid? I have yet to see any mention of different covid tests.

To date DR has sent a small set of samples from infected persons to Atlanta and Brazil for genomic testing to identify variants. It has been taking nearly two months to get the results so PAHO has donated equipment to do that testing here and it was received last week and the first results are expected today.

It is hard to imagine the Delta variant has not arrived here considering the unchecked arrivals at international airports from many destinations including mainland USA, Puerto Rico and Cuba where it is running amok. After all Gamma and Alfa are here plus other variants found in the past in South America and USA.

IMO the arrival of Delta here in DR will be problematic because even today the press is lauding the drop in covid19 here and the population is dropping it's guard completely believing vaccination is the solution such that the other designated measures of mask wearing are all but not existent.

Covid-19 positivity, the lowest since April

The statistics of the pandemic continue to reflect its greatest decline in recent months, reaching a positivity below 10% for the first time since last April, when it reached 9.9% in the first days of that month.

Yesterday the level of positivity for Covid-19 fell to 9.58%, following a trend consistent with the increase in vaccination, which has allowed the gradual de-escalation of the curfew, with a tendency to be completely eliminated in municipalities with more than 70% of its population vaccinated........

https://eldia.com.do/positividad-covid- … sde-abril/

I don't think there is any special factor that will make a delta outbreak here any better than elsewhere rather the opposite. Once it starts circulating in the community there will be no stopping it anywhere imo and the people will be confused having been sold that vaccination and boosters would stop all this.

Delta symtoms for vaccinated (if you get infected) and unvaccinated (CDC) :

For Vaccinated

Runny Nose.
Sneezing.
Common cold-like.

For Unvaccinated

Fever or chills.
Cough.
Shortness of breath.
Difficulty breathing.
Fatigue.
Muscle or body aches.
Headache.
Loss of taste and smell.
Sore throat.
Congestion.
Runny nose.
Nausea.

Thanks as always

I was thinking the same thing, if the Delta variant ever hit here it would be problematic at best yes. I know I still wear my mask in stores and stuff but whenever I look around here I don't see anyone with the mask on and I was told by a gentleman today when I was having lunch that the Dominican Republic at 0 deaths and also the lowest spread in the world. I was like yeah I can see that they lifted all restrictions and stuff and I was joking with the guy when I was saying that I'm like but we are also a Tourists country so if you have high numbers you aren't going to get the tourist. I know about 3 weeks ago there was a truck coming up and down the road giving out boxes of mask and I brought a bunch from the states plus I have a bunch of reusable ones so anyways I ran out and my reusable one was all wet so I went into three stores and none of them had Mass I was told at two stores that we don't need to use them anymore covid been beat. I pray when the Delta virus does take hold here from all the people arriving from all over the world at the Dominican people bounce back stronger but I don't know it's tough. I also was told today which I thought was funny because was coming from a pharmacist that if you have your covid shot you don't get covid ever again. That the Delta variant isn't affected if you have the vaccine you don't get it vaccine . So much false information and even the newspaper tells zero deaths 1.27 spread rate it's crazy. But if anything if the numbers are remotely close to that then the Dominican Republic is doing better than any Nation on this world. It's out if it is true congratulations I'm proud of everyone that Dallas to this point and very thankful.

We are not doing better than anyone else in the world. Two days now our positivity is back over 13%.  It dropped below 10% briefly!  It is so far from over and anything else is delusional.

It's sad the amount of disinformation out there!

All I know realistically the numbers a lot higher than it is I usually check the Dominican times they have it on the front of their page in the header. I see all the other countries are skyrocketing with cases but somehow here is holding solid. Plus listening to the locals and even some of the expats who have been here for 10 plus years that I've known we're saying the same thing oh you don't have to wear a mask I was like I'll wear one thank you.

Yes please keep wearing masks until it is clearly safe not to. This is truly a difficult time for all of humanity but we will get thru it and be stronger in many ways because of it. Blessings.

Rumors and misinformation are almost overwhelming here!  Covid will be no different.

Stay as safe as you can!

People here do believe that covid19 is controlled and even in a recent poll nearly half believed that Delta would not be coming here.

And to prove a point:

Public car drivers announce return to the old system, increasing the number of passengers

Passengers complain about the measure, they assure, they will pay the same as now and without social distance, exposing their health

https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/ … PO27926382

.......“Dear passengers, since March 17, 2020, we have been providing the service by boarding only four passengers in our units (one in front and three behind), thanks to the sanitary measures taken by the authorities and the successful vaccination campaign, the authorities began a process of reopening the country, in commercial, tourist, sports and artistic matters. (For this reason). We inform you that our units from August 4 will board one more passengers in our units, with 5 passengers, four behind and one in front, maintaining the use of masks ”, they say in the statement..........

Once they announce that officially Delta has been identified here, there will be a sea change in opinion imo. But for now it is back to normal for most with zero sanitary measures.

Todays Bulletin shows a day positivity of just over 10% and the 4 week average continuing to drop, yet the total cases (583) especially in Santo Domingo is on the rebound and there are cases in all but 2 provinces.

Everybody, politicians and the press seems more concerned with the African Pig Fever in the country right now.

Wow.

They have changed the report from that first posted today at 10am to show only 190 new cases and a lower positivity and few cases in SD.

So perhaps ignore this as above post Todays Bulletin shows a day positivity of just over 10% and the 4 week average continuing to drop, yet the total cases (583) especially in Santo Domingo is on the rebound and there are cases in all but 2 provinces.:

At least I was not the only one to see that first report today:

[i]They report another 583 cases and five deaths from coronavirus in the Dominican Republic

[link under review]

Link for above post in Diario Libre earlier today:

They report another 583 cases and five deaths from coronavirus in the Dominican Republic

https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/ … IO27927834

And now there is doubt about the figures as seen in comments on MOH Facebook page:


Fan destacado
Eddy Lajara Suazo No entiendo qué pasó subieron uno ahora mismo con 500 casos lo borran y suben este de 190 caso como así no entiendo
1 h
3 respuestas
Aleida Pereyra

Fan destacado
Aleida Pereyra Borraron el anterior que caramba
1 h
2 respuestas
Esmirna Vásquez
Esmirna Vásquez Pero borraron la anterior publicación. Tiguerones..
3
1 h
D Yelmi Variedades Rodriguez
D Yelmi Variedades Rodriguez Yo no tiendo como es que lo caso está bajando tan rápido si en lo sentro de salud la cama de usi está llena de persona con el covi🤔🤔🤔
56 min
Jose Grullon
Jose Grullon K cuelen su café claro
56 min
Randy Reyes
Randy Reyes Esta jente están loco hay dios mío eso vi yo 500 caso y ahora 190 jjjjjj
55 min
Carmen Rosa Pérez
Carmen Rosa Pérez Señor los que se burlan, serán burlado, estosnfuncionaruos non se ven en los espejos, ellos hacen Lo que criticaban, pero Dios no puede ser burlado, Emma y concienciensia queda, si es que tienen y no la tienen cicatrizada,por El poder y dinero, misericordia Señor
1
47 min
Socorro Tolentino
Socorro Tolentino Están como en la Lotería, que no se sabe cuál es el número
15 min
Dianelva De La Cruz
Dianelva De La Cruz Yo lo vi eran 583 y lo cambiaron. Para k la gente crean k no si tantos caso
11 min
Sandra Andujar
Sandra Andujar Muchas felicidades 🎉🥳
4 min
Luis Emilio Ramírez Novas
Luis Emilio Ramírez Novas Si como dicen cambiaron la cifra de los contagios.. Eso merece ser explicado...porque en muchos de los anteriores comentarios ya hay sembrada una duda..y eso no debe quedarse en dudas...Por el bien de todos y todas...
3 min

Almomento.net are reporting the same as Diario Libre with detail.

Government is going to have some explaining to do now with media reporting different numbers.

https://almomento.net/r-dominicana-sigu … contagios/

Thanks for telling us of symptoms that so many of us have had......for millenia.  Or, some get tests like Elon Musk did...4 tests...2 positive, 2 negative.

Curfew ends for National District and La Altagracia next Mondy because they hit the 70% number:

Government lifts curfew in La Altagracia province and the National District

It will be from next Monday, August 9; the two districts have more than 70% of the vaccinated population
The mandatory use of masks is maintained in public and private places of public use

Does not include Santo Domingo province

https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/ … GI27941106

Next week SP will announce the first results on the circulation of variants in the country

https://noticiassin.com/pais/en-la-prox … is-1134980

He maintained that this afternoon the National Laboratory has a meeting with the CDC and PAHO to verify the results they have obtained from those samples taken.

The Doctor Defilló National Laboratory already processed this weekend the first 196 positive tests for COVID-19 to identify the circulation of Coronavirus variants in the country, according to the Director of Epidemiology.

Ronald Skewes said it will be at next week's press conference when the results of those studies will be released.

"The promise is that by next Wednesday if we are going to have test results, from then on there will be a maximum delay of a week from when the sample is taken until the result is obtained," he said.

He maintained that this afternoon the National Laboratory has a meeting with the CDC and PAHO to verify the results they have obtained from those samples taken.

If they confirm today that they have Delta here today they should tell the population immediately imo. Perhaps it would be inopportune having just said the curfew is to be lifted in two provinces and that schooling in person starts next month. Fact is once this variant gets a foothold it spreads rapidly and widely as can be seen in many countries worldwide. Much more testing will be a first important step.

Delta infections among vaccinated likely contagious; Lambda variant shows vaccine resistance in lab

Aug 2 (Reuters) - The following is a roundup of some of the latest scientific studies on the novel coronavirus and efforts to find treatments and vaccines for COVID-19.

Delta breakthrough infections likely contagious

Among people infected by the Delta variant of the coronavirus, fully vaccinated people with "breakthrough" infections may be just as likely as unvaccinated people to spread the virus to others, new research suggests. The higher the amount of coronavirus in the nose and throat, the more likely the patient will infect others. In one Wisconsin county, after Delta became predominant, researchers analyzed viral loads on nose-and-throat swab samples obtained when patients were first diagnosed. They found similar viral loads in vaccinated and unvaccinated patients, with levels often high enough to allow shedding of infectious virus. "A key assumption" underlying current regulations aimed at slowing COVID-19 transmission "is that those who are vaccinated are at very low risk of spreading the virus to others," said study coauthor Katarina Grande of Public Health Madison & Dane County in Madison, Wisconsin. The findings, however, indicate "that vaccinated people should take steps to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus to others," she added. In a separate study from Singapore, researchers found that while Delta viral loads were similar in vaccinated and unvaccinated patients, the viral loads decreased faster in the vaccinated group. The Wisconsin and Singapore studies were both posted on Saturday on medRxiv ahead of peer review.

Lambda variant shows vaccine resistance

The Lambda variant of the coronavirus, first identified in Peru and now spreading in South America, is highly infectious and more resistant to vaccines than the original version of the virus the emerged from Wuhan, China, Japanese researchers have found. In laboratory experiments, they found that three mutations in Lambda's spike protein, known as RSYLTPGD246-253N, 260 L452Q and F490S, help it resist neutralization by vaccine-induced antibodies. Two additional mutations, T76I and L452Q, help make Lambda highly infectious, they found. In a paper posted on Wednesday on bioRxiv ahead of peer review, the researchers warn that with Lambda being labeled a "Variant of Interest" by the World Health Organization, rather than a "Variant of Concern," people might not realize it is a serious ongoing threat. Although it is not clear yet whether this variant is more dangerous than the Delta now threatening populations in many countries, senior researcher Kei Sato of the University of Tokyo believes "Lambda can be a potential threat to the human society."

Third mRNA dose may boost antibody quantity, but not quality

Among fully vaccinated people who never had COVID-19, getting a third dose of an mRNA vaccine from Pfizer (PFE.N)/BioNTech or Moderna (MRNA.O) would likely increase levels of antibodies, but not antibodies that are better able to neutralize new virus variants, Rockefeller University researchers reported on Thursday on bioRxiv ahead of peer review. They note that in COVID-19 survivors, the immune system's antibodies evolve during the first year, becoming more potent and better able to resist new variants. In 32 volunteers who never had COVID-19, they found that antibodies induced by mRNA vaccines did evolve between the first and second shots. But five months later, vaccine-induced antibodies were "equivalent" to those seen after the second dose, with "little measurable improvement" in the antibodies' ability to neutralize a broad variety of new variants, said coauthor Michel Nussenzweig. Therefore, he said, giving those individuals a third dose of the same vaccine would likely result in higher levels of antibodies that remain less effective against variants. "At the moment, the vaccine remains protective against serious infection," Nussenzweig said. "Should we learn that efficacy is indeed waning for serious infection, which is not really the case to date," then a booster dose of "whatever is available" might become appropriate, he added. Should an updated vaccine become available that protects against specific variants, "then that would be the choice."

Majority of U.S. childcare providers are vaccinated

U.S. childcare providers have higher COVID-19 vaccination rates than U.S. adults in general, a new study suggests. Researchers sent surveys in May and June to nearly 45,000 childcare providers and received responses from 48%. Overall, 78% of respondents said they were fully vaccinated, compared with a rate of about 60% in the general U.S. population. Roughly 73% of home-based caregivers said they were vaccinated, compared to nearly 80% of those working in facilities. Rates varied widely by state, from a low of 54% in Wyoming to a high of 89% in Massachusetts. The patterns of relative differences in vaccination rates were similar to what is seen in the general population, the researchers reported on Sunday on medRxiv ahead of peer review, with younger, lower-income and Black or African-Americans reporting the lowest vaccination rates. "Efforts to promote COVID-19 vaccine uptake among childcare providers take on added significance when considering the emergence of the more transmissible Delta variant," the authors said. With young children ineligible for COVID-19 vaccination, "the limiting factor in ensuring an adequate supply of childcare services will be contingent on protecting the personal health of childcare providers," they said.

https://noticiassin.com/pais/autoridade … te-1135348

MOH is edgy about Delta dismissing this report that Delta has already been found here. Looks questionable being from late May.

Anyhow we are told that this weekend we will hear the sequencing results from 196 samples taken around the country last week and tested here.

It should not come as a surprise to be told Delta has been found here but to what extent will be of interest.

With limited testing it's hard to even guess

You guys are wasting your time if you naively think you can count on.....anything from government sources, here or back 'in the world'.
"To use or not a covid vaccine,
big stress across all nations.
Scandalous FDA, CDC, NIH,
all dysfunctional organizations."

All of us are doing the best we can with the actual facts we have.

Please tell us what is the alternative?

Covid19 is real and the Delta variant is real.

Vaccines work and are safe.

The unvaccinated face a very uncertain future if they dont isolate themselves from normal life.

Stay safe.

We could listen to the WHO, whoops ...belay that. They're in the tank to China.

We listen to the accredited  groups that  work with Science. Not  conspiracy theories, not  single  doctors looking to sell something etc! 

Those of us with months and years on this forum do our very best!   I for one thank Lennox for all he does to keep us updated!

'Accredited'? Looks like you didnt read the above poem on that.

Without a vaccinated world more and worse vaccine evasive variants are evolving such as the B.1.621:

A new coronavirus variant has made its way to Florida.

A coronavirus variant discovered in Colombia has appeared in Florida, which is seeing a surge in cases

https://www.deseret.com/coronavirus/202 … -dangerous

What is the Florida variant?

The B.1.621 variant — originally discovered in Colombia — has shown up in 10% of coronavirus cases in Miami, Carlos Migoya, CEO of Jackson Health System, told WPLG.

Migoya said there is a lot of travel between Colombia and Miami, which is why the South Florida city has seen a rise in the variant.

Is the B.1.621 variant dangerous?

We don’t know. Cases of the variant first popped up in January, The Washington Post reported. There have been 16 cases of the B.1.621 variant in the United Kingdom as well. Many of the cases were linked to international travel, according to The Washington Post.

Public Health England said there is no evidence the variant causes more severe disease or makes vaccines less effective.
Per The Washington Post, health experts said they will keep an eye on the variant as the fall season begins.

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-delta-infections-produce-similar-levels-of-virus-regardless-of-vaccination-status-suggests-early-analysis-12374244

An update on a recent "variant under investigation" was also given by PHE.

VUI-21JUL-01, or B.1.621, was flagged up by the health body on 21 July after apparently spreading to several countries and also producing mutations.

There were 37 confirmed cases in England by 4 August, said PHE.

Cases have been detected across six English regions, with most in London.

"There is preliminary laboratory evidence to suggest that vaccination and previous infection may be less effective at preventing infection with VUI-21JUL-01," said PHE.

"However, this data is very limited and more research is required. There is no evidence to suggest that VUI-21JUL-01 is more transmissible than the dominant Delta variant."

Seven die after outbreak of Colombian variant of COVID-19 at Belgian nursing home

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/se … 021-08-06/

Seven residents of a nursing home in Belgium have died after being infected with the Colombian variant of the coronavirus, despite being fully vaccinated, the virology team that conducted tests said on Friday.

The variant of COVID-19 that originated in Colombia, or B.1.621, has been detected in recent weeks in the United States but cases in Europe have been rare.

If it is in Miami it will likely arrive here in DR.

and.....

As the more contagious delta variant circulates, public health experts say herd immunity has become an even more distant goal

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/as-th … 1628102212

As of yesterday according to Our World in Data Dr has 39.75% of its population fully vaccinated and 51.5% with at least one shot.

More and more vaccines arriving in DR - some 800k this week with the latest 500k from Covax.

https://hoy.com.do/otras-503100-dosis-d … ominicana/

But less and less getting vaccinated daily, so DR has a surplus stock approaching 8m doses. Enough to complete 2 shots for the total adult population and alot of booster shots too which WHO has called to be stopped until more get their needed regular shots.

Surely it would be wise to halt more deliveries and use what they have.

Different numbers? I told you guys ages ago that stats are mostly bogus.

MOH just released details of the varinats found in DR from testing last week locally and Delta has not yet been found which is a surprise.

Perhaps that explains the low case level and positivity of recent days despite opening up?

National Laboratory Doctor Defilló identified 31 cases of COVID-19 variants of concern

The delta variant, which is considered the most contagious of all, so far, has not been identified in the country

https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/ … PD28090249