The President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, announced on February 16, 2022 the elimination of all the restrictions that had been established by the Covid-19 pandemic, such as the use of masks and the vaccination card.
“From today [miércoles] all restrictive measures imposed by Covid-19 are suspended,” Abinader said in a public statement.
“Measures such as the use of the mask, the need to present the vaccination card to access all places or the restrictions in public spaces, today, are the individual responsibility of each and every one of us,” added the ruler.
The use of masks has been mandatory in public places since April 2020, a month after the country declared a state of emergency due to the coronavirus.
In October 2021, the Executive Power decided to lift the state of emergency but began to require those over 12 years of age to present the vaccination card with two doses to access closed public and private places for public use.
Abinader stated that the country “deserves and needs an emotional recovery.”
The Dominican Republic will maintain its vaccination program against Covid-19, with the invitation to the population to be immunized voluntarily.
This Caribbean country of 10.5 million inhabitants has applied 15.1 million doses of the Sinovac, AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines.
5.8 million people (55.7% of the population) have received two doses, while 2.1 million (20.7%) have received booster doses, according to official figures.
Abinader described the inoculation plan as “a complete success”.
