InstitutionalNewsResolution No. 0008-22 rescinding certain measures adopted in the fight against COVID-19 in Dominican Republic

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On Wednesday 16 February, the President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, announced the lifting of the measures taken to counteract the effects of the health emergency caused by COVID-19, making the country the first in Latin America to take such an initiative. On the occasion of the announcement on thelifting of measures against COVID-19 in the Dominican Republic, the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MISPAS) issued Resolution 0008-22, which:

1. Annuls Resolutions 000048 d/f 8/10/2021, 000069 d/f 27/12/2021 and 0002-2022 d/f 7/01/2022 issued by MISPAS.
2. The use of face masks is recommended in public and private, open and enclosed spaces.
3. The use of face masks will be mandatory in public and private health centres and mass passenger transport.
4. The requirement to present the vaccination card to enter places of public use, schools, universities, colleges, etc. is eliminated.
5. It is recommended to comply with the COVID-19 vaccination schedule for all persons over 18 years of age, consisting of three doses of the available vaccines, with the pre-established times in their administration protocols between each dose, recommending their heterologous administration (i.e. combination of vaccines).
6. A fourth dose is recommended for persons over 60 years of age, immunocompromised persons and persons with special health conditions, respectively.
7. The use of a facemask is mandatory for any person with a COVID-19 positive diagnosis for a minimum period of 10 days after diagnosis.
8. It is recommended to avoid crowds and to respect physical distancing.

Recommendations on the lifting of COVID-19 measures for employers:

 

• Mandatory use of personal protective equipment in the workplace.
• As a result of Resolution No. 0008-2022 dated 16/02/2022, issued by MISPAS, the employer does not have the power to condition the entry of its employees to its premises to the fact that they are vaccinated against COVID-19, with the appropriate doses.
• Our occupational health and safety regulations seek to create an environment of protection and prevention of occupational accidents and diseases for the benefit of workers.
• The employer must take measures that put collective protection before individual protection, provide appropriate instructions to workers regarding disease prevention, and take control measures for any risks that have been identified.
• Employers have the power to direct their operations, with the authority to make necessary changes in the mode of service provision.
• The employer has the authority to establish a general policy regarding the mandatory use of personal protective equipment (such as masks, face masks, gloves, disinfectants, etc.) within its facilities and means of transport, in order to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 infection.
• The employer shall bear the costs relating to the adoption of measures designed to ensure the safety and health of his workers, in all work-related aspects.
• All health prevention measures implemented by the employer must be published via circulars on the company’s information walls and any other means of mass dissemination.
• Workers should be made aware of health prevention measures and be warned that non-compliance could lead to disciplinary sanctions and termination of employment in serious cases.

For more information on the implications of the lifting of measures against COVID-19 in the Dominican Republic, please contact us at 809-566-7111 or [email protected].

Authors: José Cruz Campillo, Managing Partner, Mónica Villafaña, Partner and José Jeréz, Associate.