Accumulation Representative Jesus Manuel Ortiz called on Governor Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia to prioritize the issue of increasing COVID-19 cases in Puerto Rico and to be more proactive in taking the necessary preventive measures to stop the accelerated rise in viruses in Puerto Rico. the island.
“It is unfortunate that today the governor of Puerto Rico decides to be in Washington, DC, participating in a status hearing, in which he could participate virtually, while contagions by COVID on the island are on the rise. These actions demonstrate a serious problem of disrupted priorities, as they place their partisan interest before the health of Puerto Ricans, “Ortiz said.
Data from the Department of Health released today, Wednesday, report 12 deaths, 445 hospitalized, 827 confirmed cases, raising the sum of confirmed cases to 104,779 and 2,174 total deaths.
“With the numbers of contagions that were released this morning, the Governor had to be meeting urgently with the entire scientific, medical, hospital and business component of the island to establish measures. urgent to contain the disproportionate increase and prevent 1 bigger hospital problem in the near future.It is time to listen to connoisseurs, who already recommend measures of greater severity for a specific period of time.Not time to be doing partisan politics with the “Stay, it’s about being proactive and establishing an immediate route that contains the contagion,” he said.
As an example, the also chairman of the House Government Committee listed some of the recommendations that, based on expert expressions, can be taken immediately.
“The governor should consider from now on more restrictions on the executive order. We must require restaurants to use outdoor dining rooms and control their capacity, not allow the use of indoor dining rooms and re-promote the collection of food or services It is time to promote the elimination of activities outside the main family and eliminate non-essential activities on weekends, keeping open shops such as gas stations, supermarkets, pharmacies, hospitals and other repair services (mechanics, hardware stores). , plumbing, etc.). In addition, theaters, cinemas and gyms must be closed, among other efforts, “he stressed.
Among the additional recommendations Ortíz González mentioned controlling the capacity of people in parks, beaches and avoiding congestion in these places, including parking lots and directing funds to attend to the pandemic to help businesses with their expenses.
“It is vitally important to accelerate the creation of a genomic surveillance system to know important data about the different variants of COVID-19 in Puerto Rico. Strong actions must be taken to control the airport disaster that allows entry of hundreds of thousands of travelers, more than half of them without proof and with the obligation of an alleged quarantine that no one fulfills.The possibility of imposing an administrative charge starting at $ 250.00 should be studied to any traveler who does not present molecular testing and we are going to subject them to a real restriction or quarantine.This would apply to vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers.Finally, it is time to start a virtual mode transition plan in the legislature, municipalities and government agencies in Puerto Rico where desktop computers (PCs) are replaced by laptops (laptops) and thus begin the transition of our workforce to the 21st Century where essential services can be provided for virtual, dynamic and efficient hand to the citizens “, he added.
“There are many recommendations that experts on the subject are making. But it is time to act seriously, responsibly and promptly, because otherwise the island’s hospital system and the health of our people, would be seen. Governor, for the life of Puerto Ricans, nothing is more important today than addressing this dangerous threat, “the popular lawmaker said.