Following the government’s announcement on tightening health measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, a vital aspect of the daily lives of many citizens is in doubt: public transport.
Following the presidential decree number 698-20, the curfew in some of the provinces will begin this Tuesday, from the 7:00 pm to 5:00 am, with a period of “grace” until 9:00 pm for free movement.
This new timetable will be applied only to Gran Santo Domingo, Santiago, Duarte, La Vega and Puerto Plata, and it is specified in the document referred to that this grace period will be used “to travel exclusively to their respective residences.”
However, the document did not detail how this measure it would affect public transport which until last Monday ended its services at 8:00 pm.
In addition, public transporters are not included in the group of citizens who are allowed traffic after starting the curfew.
These are those who offer health services, those who have a medical emergency who need to go to a health center or pharmacy, those who are engaged in private security work.
Also to members of the press, vehicle operators and technicians of companies and institutions providing energy, water, telecommunications and collection of solid rights in an identified manner, exclusively during the exercise of their labor functions.
Likewise, for those who operate vehicles dedicated to the urban and interurban distribution of goods, duly identified inputs and fuels, exclusively during the exercise of their labor functions.
People who work in the food and medical and pharmaceutical industry and trade and extend in transit to from their workplaces, as long as they carry identification from an authorized company.
International passengers and operators of private or commercial vehicles who are transporting them, as well as duly identified employees of the maritime and air transport sector, in transit to or from ports and airports.
Employees of companies that provide funeral services, exclusively during the exercise of their labor functions, and the hotel, mining and free zones sectors, exclusively during the exercise of their labor functions.
Restaurant employees or contractors providing home cooked food services, which we will be able to circulate until the 23:00, exclusively during the exercise of his labor functions.
Employees and vehicles dedicated to the transport and distribution of food, goods and inputs, both urban and interurban, of the Social Plan of the Presidency, duly identified.