ABSTRACT
The Caribbean is a region that has suffered from various disasters ranging from hurricanes to earthquakes and the destructive effects on crops and water availability stemming from the impact of climate change. Furthermore, the region is highly dependent on several lines of economic activity, especially tourism, that make their economies highly vulnerable to changing external fortunes over which they have no control. These two elements left most of the region extremely ill-prepared to combat the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Despite their broad similarities, the Caribbean economies have had diverse COVID-19 experiences, with some countries faring reasonably well so far, while others appear to be struggling against incredible odds. The government of the Dominican Republic took drastic action to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by bringing economic activity to a halt, including the implementation of a countrywide curfew, and school, border and business closures.
