Accumulation representative Jesús Manuel Ortíz called on Governor Pedro Pierluisi to prioritize the issue of the increase in COVID-19 cases in Puerto Rico and to be more proactive in taking the necessary preventive measures to counteract the accelerated increase in the virus. stop on the island.
“It is unfortunate that the Governor of Puerto Rico today decides to participate in a status hearing in Washington, DC, in which he could participate in a virtual manner, while COVID infections on the island are dramatically increasing. These actions reveal a serious problem of shifted priorities as they place their partisan interests above the health of Puerto Ricans, ”said Ortiz.
Department of Health data released today, Wednesday, reports 12 deaths, 445 hospitalized, 827 confirmed cases, bringing the total of confirmed cases to 104,779 and the total number of deaths to 2,174.
Given the number of infections revealed this morning, the governor should have urgently met with the entire scientific, medical, hospital and business component of the island to take urgent action to limit the excessive proliferation and a major hospital problem in the US. appearance. near future. It is time to listen to experts who have been recommending measures with greater seriousness for a period of time. This is not the time to practice party politics with a state, it’s about being proactive and creating an immediate route that involves contagion, ”he said.
As an example, the also chairman of the House Government Committee cites some of the recommendations that can be immediately followed up on the basis of the experts’ statements.
The governor must consider further 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 go back to promoting food pick-up or delivery. It’s time to promote the elimination of non-family activities and eliminate non-essential weekend activities by keeping businesses open such as gas stations, supermarkets, pharmacies, hospitals and other repair services (mechanics, hardware stores, plumbing, etc.) . ). In addition, theaters, cinemas and gyms, among others, must be closed ”, he emphasized.
Among the additional recommendations, Ortíz González mentioned controlling the capacity of people in parks and beaches and avoiding crowds in those places, including parking lots and providing funds to attend the pandemic to help businesses with their expenses.
“It is vital to accelerate the creation of a genomic surveillance system to learn important data about the different variants of COVID-19 in Puerto Rico. Vigorous measures must be taken to contain the airport disaster allowing hundreds of thousands of travelers to enter, more than half of them without proof and with the obligation of an alleged quarantine that no one complies with. The possibility of charging an administration fee from $ 250.00 to all travelers who do not provide molecular proof should be studied and we are going to subject them to a real restriction or quarantine. This would apply to vaccinated and non-vaccinated travelers. Finally, it is time to initiate a transition plan to virtual mode in the legislature, municipalities and agencies of the government of Puerto Rico, replacing desktop computers (PCs) with laptops, thus moving our workforce to the 21st. century, where this is essential. services can be delivered to citizens in a virtual, dynamic and efficient way, ”he added.
“There are many recommendations that experts in this field make. But it is time to act seriously, responsibly and quickly, or else the island’s hospital system and the health of our people would be endangered. Governor, nothing is more important to the lives of Puerto Ricans than tackling this dangerous threat, ”said the popular lawmaker.