At the end of the long Easter holiday weekend (Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday) the death toll reported in Emergency Operations Center (COE) Bulletin No. 3 totaled 60, with 34 killed in traffic accidents, 20 drowned and 8 due to alcohol poisoning, according to El Caribe. General Juan Manuel Mendez of the COE says that a total of 328 people required assistance during the holiday. Of these, 253 were involved in 84 traffic accidents, 50 were treated for alcohol poisoning and 9 for food poisoning. In the traffic accidents 96 motorcycles and 56 vehicles were involved. General Mendez said that a total of 87 vehicles and 1,512 motorcycles were retained for a series of infractions.
General Mendez said that the greatest number of cases was reported in Greater Santo Domingo, Peravia (Bani), Monte Plata, Monsenor Nouel (Bonao), Barahona, Sanchez Ramirez (Cotui), La Vega and El Seibo.
Meanwhile, Interior & Police Minister Franklin Almeyda defended the government decision to lift the ban on alcohol sales for the Easter holiday from Thursday through Sunday evening.

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