Alert – U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo - U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic

Alert – U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo (April 20, 2020)

Location: Dominican Republic

Event: The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo will send an update at least once a week to ensure that all U.S. citizens in the Dominican Republic have the latest information on COVID-19.

The following information has been updated on the Embassy Santo Domingo COVID-19 website:

The Dominican Republic has 4,964 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 235 confirmed deaths.
Masks are required in all public spaces in the Dominican Republic and the curfew has been extended until April 30, 2020.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have extended Tax Day to July 15, 2020. All U.S. citizens are advised to keep an eye out for pervasive tax scams throughout this prolonged filing period. Tax scams can occur throughout the year and phishing attempts spike during times of heightened societal stress or crisis. U.S. citizens should continuously educate themselves on the risks, threats, and security precautions to best protect their identities and information.

Protect yourself from tax-related cyber scams with the following guidance:

Stay vigilant and file taxes as early as possible to reduce the risk of tax refund theft.
Choose qualified tax preparerswho have Tax Preparer Identification Numbers granted by the IRS.
Know the facts on how the IRS contacts taxpayers. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayersby email, text messages, or social media channels to request personal or financial information. Refer to the IRS Coronavirus Tax Relief website and IRS Phishing and Online Scams website and for specific guidance and report suspected phishing tax scams to phishing@irs.gov
Review the IRS checklist Taxes.Security.Together., which includes important steps to secure computers, avoid phishing and malware, and protect personal information. Stay updated on the most recent tax scams on the IRS Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts website.

Actions to Take:

Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information and what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19.
Dial *462 to reach the COVID-19 hotline in the Dominican Republic for specific instructions if you have been exposed or are experiencing severe symptoms. Note: English-speaking operators are limited.
U.S. citizens who live in the United States should arrange for immediate return home or be prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period. All U.S. citizens must follow the curfew and restrictions on public gatherings put in place by the Government of the Dominican Republic.
Check with the airlines directly regarding booking flights or changes to your travel plans. Flights are available to the United States through JetBlue and Delta.
Have a plan to depart from the Dominican Republic that does not rely on U.S. government assistance.
Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in the Dominican Republic.
Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest travel information and other global impacts.
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.