The announcement of new traffic restrictions yesterday created new crises in the economic sectors which, although they are in line with the measures notified by the Government, do not fail to feel the negative impact of time limits for their businesses.
Supermarkets, banks, travel agencies, restaurants, hotels, clothing stores, intercity transportation companies, wholesale and retail trade, and other companies, triggered emergency meetings to define how they would operate under the new rules to curb the expansion of the COVID-19 and at what times.
Both malls, supermarkets and commercial banks announced in the afternoon the new schedules that will govern for customer service. The Association of Commercial Banks (ABA) notified that from today, Monday to Friday, the closing hours of all banks will be until 4:00 pm and that the first two Saturdays and Sundays in January will be closed at all times.
The CCN Group reported that its (National) supermarket chain will be open today from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm and that from January 2 to 10 it will be open from Monday to Friday from 6:00 am at 5:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm with delivery service 11:00 pm. The Jumbo and National Coast Center shopping centers will operate at the same time.
merchants
In consulting the commercial sector represented by the National Organization of Commercial Companies (ONEC), the Dominican Federation of Merchants (FDC) and the National Federation of Traders and Entrepreneurs (Fenacerd), its leaders stated that they were in accordance with the new schedule restrictions, however, they suggested to the Government more rigor with compliance with the physical distance to avoid public congestion.
Iván García, president of the FDC, explained that the opening hours of the shops from 2 to 10 January will be from Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and on Saturdays and Sundays until 11 am: 00 in the morning.
He added that since the curfew extension announcement was made, people’s anxiety to provide for themselves has begun to be felt.
Cancellations
The president of the Dominican Association of Tour Operators (Adotur), Jacinto Fernández, stated that immediately the Government announced the new curfew schedule, local customers began to ask travel agencies to cancel the lations of their reserves and the return of their money, which generated a level of chaos.
He explained that people alleged that not having a traffic permit would make it difficult for them to move to hotels and then return home. Faced with this situation, the tour operators contacted the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) to look for alternatives and respond to the commitments already made.
flexibility
Fernandez explained that Adotur suggested to the Government, through the Ministry of Tourism, that people staying in hotels and resorts be allowed traffic from December 31 to January 4 until 7:00 p.m. at night, as long as they present a voucher or travel agency invoice, a hotel departure letter or a hotel check-out ticket.
Despite efforts to find out the situation of the hotel sector with the new restrictions, it was not possible to obtain the statements of the Hotel and Tourism Association of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores).
Restaurants and nightclubs dedicated to leisure and the entertainment industry are among the sectors most affected by the established curfew hours since the expansion of the Covid pandemic in the country began last month. of March.
SEPA
The great sacrificed
mipymes nocturnes
Small and medium-sized companies in the formal and informal sector, especially those operating at night, are the big ones sacrificed with the curfews announced since the pandemic began.
Drink consumption
Although businesses will have to close their doors from 5:00 pm on January 2-10, 2021, the disposition of alcoholic beverage sales until 6:00 pm was not modified.
digital banking
The Association of Banks suggested users use digital platforms and avoid congestion and help reduce the presence of people in branches.