DR News
Monsignor Jesus Castro Marte of the Our Lady of Altagracia Diocese in Higuey announced that the traditional 19, 20, and 21 January religious celebrations are canceled this year due to Covid-19. The bishop said that the large number of people that congregate for the religious festivities put thousands at risk of becoming infected with Covid-19. He said the La Altagracia Basilica remains closed to the general public. The 21 January 2021 La Altagracia Day mass and other celebrations will be televised and streamed on social media platforms.
The actual Day of La Altagracia takes place on 21 January 2021. The day falls on a Thursday, making for a long weekend for those who can take Friday and Saturday off.
Source: DR1, El Dia
Dec 10, 2020
Germany ambassador Volker Pellet delivered 100,000 PCR test kits to the Dominican Republic on Tuesday, 8 December 2020. Vice President Raquel Peña, who heads the health cabinet of the Abinader administration, received the donation. A delegation of health experts from the Charité Institute of Virology of the University of Berlin and an epidemiology specialist from the Bernhard Nocht Institute of Tropical Medicine of Hamburg came to present the donation. The PCR kits are produced by the German company TIB Molbiol.
Health Minister Plutarco Arias said at the ceremony that the visit of the specialists is to help identify solutions for prevention and containment of the pandemic.
The German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) coordinated the visit. The team will organize training for Dominican lab specialists in collaboration with the Epidemiology Agency (Digepi).
Dr. Andres Moreira Soto of the Charité Institute of Virology of the University Hospital of Berlin leads the visiting team of German specialists.
Source: DR1, El Caribe
Dec 10, 2020
After a very successful season one last year, the reality show resumes on Wednesday, 9 December 8 pm on Color Visión, Channel 9. New this year are the hosts, Karina Larrauri and Francisco Vasquez. Pamela Sued is taking over as a judge for Milagros German who was named communications director for the Abinader administration. Also new is that the performances will no longer be to a live audience due to Covid-19. The show is to be aired on Wednesdays.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
Dec 10, 2020
PUERTO PLATA.- The Viva Wyndham Tangerine hotel located on Cabarete beach in the eastern part of Puerto Plata, will open its doors on December 4, according to the Viva Wyndham Resorts hotel chain.
“Guaranteeing the well-being and safety of our guests and collaborators has always been the main priority of Viva Wyndham Resorts, for this reason, prior to the opening of all our hotels, we have implemented international health management programs that certify that we comply with all safety and hygiene measures, ”Said Viva Wyndham Resorts Executive Vice President Rafael Blanco Canto. It is explained that the Viva Wyndham Tangerine is a hotel for those with a more adventurous spirit, a cozy place that consists of 341 Superior rooms, Superior Sea View, Suites, and the “All Together”, ideal for families.
Tangerine is located on Cabarete beach, one of the main destinations for extreme water sports, especially kiteboarding and windsurfing, in addition to the advantage of being only 3 minutes from downtown Cabarete, 20 minutes from Gregorio Luperón International Airport, and just under 2 hours from the Cibao International Airport. Viva Wyndham Resorts began an audit process to certify all its properties with the protocols for preventing the spread of infections (POSI-Check), created by the UK risk management certifier, Cristal International Standards (CIS) for the hotel sector.
Source: Puerto Plata Digital
Nov 1, 2020
The Tigres del Licey won their first game when the players resumed playing in the 2020-2021 Winter Professional Baseball League. The teams had been out after several players tested positive for Covid-19. The Dominican League is playing under the Major League Baseball health protocols.
The games will now continue between the six teams that play in the Dominican baseball league. These are the Aguilas Cibaeñas, Estrellas Orientales, Toros del Este, Leones del Escogido, Gigantes del Cibao and Tigres del Licey.
The games are being transmitted on TV and streamed online. See the schedule.
Source: DR1, Lidom
Nov 1, 2020
Thursday and Friday, 4 and 5 December 2020 marks the reopening of the National Theater closed since lockdown began in March 2020.
The production is a ballet directed by Stephanie Bauger and Carlos Veitia. Several ballet companies are part of the performance.
“50 Minutes of Dance and Music, the Great Reopening” is the show’s name with dancers of the National Contemporary Dance Company, Dominican Concert Ballet, the National Dance School, Endanza Juvenil, and dancers from the Dominican National Ballet. The presentation has the backing of the Dominican Dance Board and Sinfonía Foundation.
A third of the hall’s capacity is being used, that is 500 of the 1,500 seats. Tickets are RD$1,000 for general admission and RD$300 for students and persons older than 60 years. Showtime is 6 pm.
Source: DR1, DiaroLibre
Nov 1, 2020
The Presidency extended the present Covid-19 curfew that is now in effect from 2 December to 22 December. The Ministry of Public Health has said that depending on the indicators, the government will decide whether to authorize more flexibility during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Recent Covid-19 epidemiological bulletins show an increase in the spread of the disease.
The announcement of the extending of the evening curfew is in Decree 554-20. The curfew schedule is the same – Monday to Friday from 9 pm to 5 am, and Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 7 pm to 5 am. The government issues special circulation permits to a large number of people that are authorized to circulate during the curfew. Among these are health care providers, private security work, press, food deliveries, airport transporters, among others.
Source: DR1, ListinDiario
Nov 1, 2020
Foreign Relations Minister Roberto Alvarez announced a joint declaration with his colleague, Claude Joseph of Haiti after meetings this week. Joseph head a high-level mission from Haiti that is visiting this week. The channels are open for improved communication between both countries.
The foreign ministers signed a protocol for the repair or replacement of several border markers on the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Said Alvarez: “For the Dominican government, it is of the highest priority to establish an agenda with Haiti. This agenda addresses transcendental issues for the development and benefit of both nations. Among them, formalizing and strengthening bi-national trade in both directions, establishing technical cooperation programs between both states, bringing our positions closer in regional forums and creating a common framework to protect this island that we share for the welfare of our peoples,” said the Dominican Foreign Minister.
Alvarez pointed out that the border must and can become a source of well-being and progress for both countries’ citizens. He said the meeting with Joseph is an important step in this direction. Alvarez highlighted that better border management will allow both states to take advantage of bilateral trade. At the Ministry of Foreign Relations, we are convinced that a better border means that jobs, better income, environmental and environmental conditions for sustainable human development, said Alvarez.
The foreign ministers initiated the revised bilateral agenda with the signing of a protocol for the repair or replacement of the 240, 241, and 251 markers that identify the border limits between both nations in the same locations as was established by the border delimitation agreements.
“These pyramids were buried underwater after the flooding of Lakes Azuey and Enriquillo several years ago. Besides, the same natural phenomenon generated the displacement of neighboring communities into Dominican territory. The protocol we are signing today, which has been satisfactorily negotiated for some time now, allows us to relocate these communities in a peaceful and orderly manner and to re-establish the common pyramids,” explained Álvarez.
The document signed by both ministers of foreign affairs establishes that each country will designate a technical committee to order the topographical survey, plans, and models for re-establishing the above-mentioned markers and any other damaged or submerged between the pyramids 238 and 252.
The committee will also prepare the budget for heavy equipment and machinery with the fair distribution of costs shared between the two parties.
The border markers are regulated by the Treaty of 21 January 1929 on the delimitation of the border between the two countries; the Treaty of Friendship, Perpetual Peace and Arbitration signed on 20 February 1929; the Border Boundary Agreement of 27 February 1935; the Additional Protocol to the Border Treaty of 21 January 1929 signed on 9 March 1936; and the act registering the joint inventory work on the border pyramids carried out in 2002, all related to the territorial limits of the two countries.
Source: DR1, Ministry of Foreign Relations
Nov 1, 2020
The city government of the National District has passed new rulings that facilitate construction in the city. While the Polígono Central and Gazcue areas of the city are excluded, the new regulation applies to most of the capital city. The new regulation authorizes a 20% increase in the density of the city areas. The increase in density also allows for high rises up to 40 floors on main avenues.
Neighborhood groups protested the increase in density, arguing that the city government is not taking into account the services in the areas, including infrastructure, roads, and parking, when authorizing more dwellings in the same space.
Source: DR1, Listindiario
Nov 1, 2020
JetBlue began new daily direct flights from Newark International Airport to Punta Cana on 19 November 2020. The relatively short flight makes it possible for tourists to get to the beach fast. Punta Cana resorts are operating under extensive health protocols, and the low density and health protocols tourists will find at the resorts increases the likelihood of having a Covid-19 safe vacation.
JetBlue included the new route to meet demand by the leisure and visiting friends and relatives market segment. JetBlue reports that the VFR travel trends are up for the third quarter of the year. The increase in this market segment has reduced losses for the airline in the third quarter of the year.
The airline promotes itself saying it is flying Airbus A320 aircraft that offers the most legroom in coach. Service on-board includes free Fly-Fi, described as the fastest broadband internet in the sky. Travelers receive complimentary and unlimited name-brand snacks and soft drinks. Also included in all fares are live DirectTV on board the flight. Those booking flights with JetBlue also benefit from the waivers on all change and cancel fees for all fares.
Source: DR1, JetBlue
Nov 25, 2020
