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This Is What Eight Full Hours Of Sleep Can Do For Your Body

You have possibly heard the phrase: you can sleep when you’re dead, and back in the day you probably didn’t mind skipping it when you were out partying or working late to meet that deadline that your boss set. But if you are serious about your health and keeping your physique lean and trim, then you are going to want to discover why eight hours of sleep a night is incredibly important for your overall health.

  1. Rebuild and Repair

When you’re sleeping your body is able to rebuild and repair itself, which is exactly what you need if you’ve been through a grueling workout. While supplements and protein will go a long way towards helping you sculpt and tone, sleeping is where your body rebuilds what’s been broken down and repair those micro-tears made in the muscles. So in essence, sleeping well will have you waking feeling stronger in the long run.

  • Keeps You Mentally Strong

Forgetting where you placed your keys, or having a brain fog until that first cup of coffee may be the norm, but when you get your full eight hours a night, you’re far less likely to suffer from short-term memory loss or walk around in a cloud of fatigue. Sleep strengthens neural pathways and if you’re learning a new skill, it’s vitally important to get your sleep in each night in order to maintain and better retain the information you’ve assimilated.

  • Less Stressed

People who are chronically sleep-deprived tend to also gain weight faster due to messing with leptin production, along with increased anxiety due to excess cortisol staying in the system. Sleep helps your body flush out these excess hormones, which allows your body to fully recover from trauma and anxiety as you rest. It’s as good as yoga to help you destress.

The Science

When you sleep at night your body goes through several stages of sleep, and it is critical that you reach each one successfully. So, try to avoid waking frequently at night in order to get the full benefits.

Stage one – Non-REM Sleep: During this phase of sleep, you are most likely to wake easily at sudden noises or loud sounds. Your brain waves are focused on muscle memory and logging each movement learned throughout your waking hours.

Stage two – HGH Sleep: During the second sleep stage your body relaxes and your brainwaves slow down as you begin producing the Human Growth Hormone. This is responsible for increasing muscle tissue growth as well as regulating the metabolism of the body.

Stage three – Deep Sleep: During this sleep cycle your body enters a deeper phase of sleep and blood supply to your muscles is on the rise, along with more muscle growth and more HGH is released.

Stage four – REM  Sleep: During this phase, the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) of sleep, you’re likely to experience dreams as your brain kicks into high gear again. Extra oxygen reaches your muscles to eliminate any lactic acid (released during workouts). If you don’t reach this phase of sleep enough, then the lactic acid stays in your body and can cause intensely painful knots to build up. Prolactin is also released during REM sleep which helps with joint recovery as it’s an anti-inflammatory hormone.

If you’re not seriously prioritizing your sleeping schedule yet like you’re prioritizing the need for bingo for real money, then hopefully these reasons will help convince you of sleep importance to your workout routine, and overall lifestyle.

Is A Maltese Dog A Good Choice For Kids

Having a pet seems to be the dream for children around the globe, they love the idea that a furry animal will give them as many cuddles and love as they want, and that they have a nonstop companion to go on adventures with. But how do you know what dog is the most appropriate, which one will add value to their lives in more ways than we realize with pets, and are they responsible enough to take on the chores and walks that go along with a furball?


It can be tricky deciding on the breed, shape, and size, but also the diet and nutrition that comes with having a pet. Certain dogs can be fussy eaters which can be tricky for kids to navigate around, others are prone to health issues if not fed correctly, but most importantly the breed is what will determine the complexity of the new furry family member.

The right fit.


As adults we tend to like different animals than those of our children, while we are all fine to see exotic lizards and Japanese fighting fish at the zoo or Oceanarium we aren’t rushing out to buy the necessities to have one in the home. Some people do however get drawn in by the mystique of something unusual, see here for an idea of what those are and how pet owners are pushing the boundaries with their choices.


The same goes for dogs, you think it is easy to choose one, but when you begin your research on which puppy is suitable you are overwhelmed with choice and not to mention their cuteness.


Thinking small and manageable is most parent’s go-to option, and one in particular that stands out from the crowd is the Maltese. The fluffy white hair blowing effortlessly in the breeze, a little bow usually adorns the top of the head nestled amongst curls and which matches its little owner’s princess dress and shoes. But just because it is small does it make for a good fit?

Maltese for Mary.

What you need to be careful of when purchasing your pup is its history, does it have good energy, is it family-friendly, and has it got a good temperament to withstand Mary dressing him and combing his hair when she feels in the mood?


Small doesn’t necessarily equal toy things, they are petite and fragile animals that can be seriously injured if your toddler decides to have an overly exciting wrestling match, and may even turn on them in self-defense. In general, they are playful and very social, considered as royal lapdogs during the Roman and Greek eras, but be sure it has the patience needed for a home filled with children.


The last thing to think about is their training, they are tough to get down to a routine and set schedule as they prefer to be with their owners rather than alone for long periods.


Be sure of your Maltese temperament before making any conclusive decisions, certain foods and organic products are available on the market to assist with this but you will need to do your homework. Maltese don’t do well with quantity as opposed to quality so using generic food brands could cause an upset stomach and certainly won’t offer the nutritional value your growing pup needs.

Why pets are important in child development.

We often don’t realize the impact an animal can have on a child both emotionally and mentally, of course, a physical comes as part of the package as the race and tumble in the garden for hours. But it can be even more than that, let’s take a look at some of the top features parents praised about giving their child a pet.

  • Friend. They will always have someone there by their side, a shoulder to cry on, a cuddle when it is most needed, or simply just having someone to lie on the grass with and stare at the clouds floating by.
  • Schooling. Kids can feel pressured at schools to participate, perform, or read, and this can cause them anxiety. Getting your child to read a ‘bedtime story’ to your family pet will be the best of both worlds, they get to practice their daily required reading and increase their bond.

And this is no ordinary connection, kids and pets speak their own language, click in a way that sometimes surprises adults, you can click here to read an in-depth article on the topic and see if what you learn is evident in your home.

  • Responsibility. Depending on the age of the child they may or may not take full responsibility for the family pet, but there is some level of ownership as they grow up. Cleaning after them, walking and exercising them daily, and having fresh food and water are basics that children learn with a pet.
  • Communication. Doing activities together as a family such as walking the dog or going to a dog show helps to keep the lines of communication open between family members. Hearing advice, asking questions all adds to the relationships built between parents and kids.

At the end of the day, a pet brings an abundance of love, even on the worst days when you think nothing can bring you out of the funk they appear and smother you in licks and slobber. It has also been shown that stressful situations can be diffused by simply stroking your pet, so next time there’s a big exam try it and see how they forget about tomorrow’s big test.

Do These 6 Steps To Make Payroll Processing Easier

Payroll processing is a tedious task for anyone that has to fulfill payroll for an organization. You’ll want to make sure that you set up the payroll system in a way that makes the process easy and efficient. This post will cover six methods that will make your payroll processing far more straightforward.

  1. Use Software

In days gone by, everything must have been done manually, causing mistakes, decreasing productivity, and ironically regarding payroll, increasing the amount of staff you needed to get it all done. Fortunately, you can find software that either automates or increases efficiency in almost all business areas these days. If you use payroll software as part of your workflow, you will drastically reduce the time and effort you spend on this process. Furthermore, the payroll gurus over at https://www.zenefits.com/payroll/ suggest that being a payroll compliant business can be a full-time business on its own. Therefore, software that can connect to your Human Resources (HR) department could save you a lot of effort. Additionally, these types of software usually work in conjunction with other accounting software, which can further increase productivity and remove a great deal of guesswork. 

The main benefit of using software is that everything can be updated in real-time. This is an immeasurable advantage because if you give an employee a raise, you can merely plug it into the software, which will work out the rest. It allows you to focus on increasing business rather than becoming bogged down in numbers and compliance. 

  1. Maintain Accurate Records

Any business worth its salt should always maintain proper records. This is beneficial for tax reasons, profit and loss reasons, and other payroll reasons. These records can include:

  • Employee salaries.
  • Time each employee has worked.
  • When you hired them and their starting salary.
  • Any raises they have earned over time.
  • Time cards (both electronic and manual).
  • Details of their 401k
  • Any medical leave they have occurred.

There are far more, and the things you must maintain a record of will vary whether your employee is exempt or nonexempt. The principal point is to ensure that you have a comprehensive account of each employee you have hired. 

  1. Ensure Your Employees Are Paid On Time

The schedule that you can pay your employees is indicated on a state-by-state basis. Not many people understand this fact and end up falling foul of the pertinent laws. While the state will set the minimum standard, you as a business owner have discretion if you want to increase the payment schedule. For example, the State of Delaware says that you must pay employees at least every month. If you wish, you can pay your staff weekly, but you cannot decide to pay them every two months as this would be against state law. There are four standard pay schedules which include:

  • Weekly.
  • Bi-weekly.
  • Semi-monthly.
  • Monthly.

You can maintain a payroll calendar and let all staff members know that this will be how they are paid in the future.

  1. Ensure You Take Proper Withholding 

The employee fills out a W-4 form to choose how much is deducted from their paycheck. A voluntary deduction for insurance premiums, charitable contributions, or retirement contributions can also be made by employees. The W-4 forms for employees usually indicate what needs to be withheld for federal and state taxes during payroll processing. You must ensure that you have signed consent from all employees to deduct certain items from their salaries, such as uniforms or meals. You may also be required to withhold some of their pay for student loan payments or court-ordered payments. If this is the case, you must fully understand your obligations as an employer.

  1. Maintain A Simple Policy

As the saying goes, add more simplicity than subtract. It is best to get your management team together to review everything related to employee pay. Once you have this information, see hope you can simplify things and make universal rules that apply to all levels of staff.

  1. Outsource Your Payroll

If all of the above seem like work you would rather avoid, you can always outsource it to companies that deal with payroll. It is often relatively expensive, but if you perform a cost to benefit calculator, you might discover that you save money or at least allow yourself to increase business by focusing on what matters.

Payroll is one of those things that every business would rather avoid if possible. Unfortunately, it is impossible to avoid. It is, fortunately, possible to make things easier by utilizing a variety of methods.

S.I. No. 80 of 2021

The public is hereby notified of Statutory Instrument No. 80 of 2021, which will be in effect from July 26 to August 15, 2021.

Amendments outlined in the new SI include changes to the curfew hours which will now be from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. daily. Minors are to remain within the confines of private property during the hours of 6:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Churches located in the villages of Conejo, Midway, and Barranco will not be allowed to operate for a period of two weeks starting July 26, 2021.

Furthermore, the SI informs that frontline personnel who work at a point of entry or exit of Belize shall be redeployed if not vaccinated.

The Ministry of Health & Wellness advises the public to be informed. Visit a healthcare provider for help when making the decision to get vaccinated. Follow all the public health regulations to help prevent, control and contain the spread of COVID-19.

Statutory Instrument No. 80 of 2021 – PUBLIC HEALTH (PREVENTION OF THE SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE) (COVID-19) (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) REGULATIONS, 2021 can be found here.

The new regulations were made effective on Monday, July 26, 2021.

Frontier Airlines Set to Fly to Belize

Low-fare carrier Frontier Airlines has announced 20 new nonstop routes, including 17 new Orlando routes and an expansion into four popular international vacation destinations: Antigua & Barbuda, Belize City, Liberia, Costa Rica, and Turks & Caicos. Plus, the airline is adding its 7th airport in New York state with the announcement of service from New York Stewart International Airport (SWF) in New Windsor. To celebrate the new service, Frontier is offering introductory fares starting at $25*.

“Today’s announcement marks one of our largest international expansions ever and we are thrilled to now offer our customers affordable service to four more popular destinations offering both sun and fun,” said Daniel Shurz, senior vice president of commercial, Frontier Airlines. “Summer 2021 has led to phenomenal growth for Frontier and this announcement of 20 new routes comes on the heels of 21 that we unveiled just last week. Frontier travelers now have more route options than ever before to explore, while at the same time knowing they’re flying on America’s Greenest Airline, with a young fleet that maximizes efficiency every flight.”

New Route from Denver International Airport (DEN):

SERVICE TO:SERVICE START:SERVICE FREQUENCY:INTRO FARE:APPLICABLE DAY(S) FOR INTRO FARE:
Belize City, Belize (BZE)**Dec. 11, 20211x WeeklyTo BZE: $99*Saturday

New Routes from Orlando International Airport (MCO):

SERVICE TO:SERVICE START:SERVICE FREQUENCY:INTRO FARE:APPLICABLE DAY(S) FOR INTRO FARE:
New Windsor, N.Y. (SWF)Oct. 25, 20214x Weekly$39*Monday, Wednesday, Saturday
Bentonville, Ark. (XNA)Nov. 1, 20212x Weekly$49*Monday, Friday
Fort Myers, Fla. (RSW)Nov. 1, 2021Daily$25*Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday
Harlingen, Texas (HRL)Nov. 1, 20212x Weekly$59*Monday, Friday
Pensacola, Fla. (PNS)Nov. 1, 20213x Weekly$29*Monday, Wednesday
Sioux Falls, S.D. (FSD)Nov. 1, 20212x Weekly$59*Monday, Friday
Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ)**Nov. 2, 20213x WeeklyTo MBJ: $99*Tuesday, Thursday
Nassau, The Bahamas (NAS)**Nov. 2, 20214x WeeklyTo NAS: $69*Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
El Paso, Texas (ELP)Nov. 3, 20212x Weekly$69*Wednesday, Saturday
Antigua & Barbuda (ANU)**Dec. 4, 20211x WeeklyTo ANU: $99*Saturday
Cedar Rapids, Iowa (CID)Nov. 4, 20212x Weekly$59*Thursday, Sunday
Fargo, N.D. (FAR)Nov. 4, 20212x Weekly$69*Thursday, Sunday
San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL)**Nov. 4, 20212x WeeklyTo SAL: $99*Thursday, Sunday
Cozumel, Mexico (CZM)**Nov. 6, 20211x WeeklyTo CZM: $99*Saturday
Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR)**Nov. 11, 20212x WeeklyTo LIR: $99*Thursday, Sunday
Belize City, Belize (BZE)**Dec. 11, 20211x WeeklyTo BZE: $79*Saturday
Turks & Caicos (PLS)**Dec. 17, 20211x WeeklyTo PLS: $99*Friday

**Route subject to government approval.

Frequency and times are subject to change, so please check FlyFrontier.com for the most updated schedule.

Frontier is focused on more than low fares. The carrier offers customers the ability to customize travel to their needs and budget. For example, customers can purchase options a la carte or in one low-priced bundle called the WORKS. This bundle includes refundability, a carry-on bag, a checked bag, the best available seat, waived change fees, and priority boarding.

The airline’s frequent flyer program, FRONTIER Miles, lets members enjoy many benefits as well as the ability to attain Elite status. Like the airline, FRONTIER Miles is family-friendly and the program makes it easy for families to enjoy the rewards together, including family pooling of miles. FRONTIER Miles is aptly named because you earn one mile for every mile flown – no funny formulas at Frontier. Whether customers travel a little or a lot, they will find FRONTIER Miles rewarding.

The health and safety of customers and team members is Frontier’s number one priority. With that in mind, Frontier introduced sweeping health and safety enhancements in 2020 that touch every step of a customer’s travel journey with the airline.

Frontier and federal law require that all customers and crew members wear a face covering throughout their travel journey. Plus, anyone flying with Frontier must accept a health acknowledgment during the check-in process.

During the flight, main cabin air is a mix of fresh air drawn from outside and air that has been passed through an air filtration system that features HEPA filters capable of capturing respiratory virus particles at more than 99.9% efficiency – similar to those used in hospital environments. Frontier’s modern all-Airbus fleet is among the youngest in the world, with an average age of approximately four years.

For additional information, visit https://www.flyfrontier.com/committed-to-you/

*About the Promo Fare Offer:

Fares must be purchased by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Aug. 2, 2021. Fares are valid for travel on select days effective Oct. 25, 2021, through Feb. 9, 2022. The following blackout dates apply: Nov. 18-30; 2021, Dec. 18, 2021 – Jan. 4, 2022, and Jan. 14-17, 2022. Round-trip purchase is not required.

Discount Den fares are only available at FlyFrontier.com to Discount Den members. Join Discount Den here! Fare(s) shown includes all transportation fees, surcharges, and taxes, and are subject to change without notice until purchased. Seats are limited at these fares and certain flights and/or days of travel may be unavailable.

All reservations are non-refundable, except that refunds are allowed for reservations made seven days (168 hours) or more prior to departure and provided that a refund request is made within 24 hours of initial reservation.

Changes or cancellations made to itineraries after the 24 hours will be subject to change fees, and any fare differential. Learn more about our change policy. Previously purchased tickets may not be exchanged for special fare tickets. Flight segments must be canceled prior to scheduled departure time or the tickets and all amounts paid will be forfeited.

Additional travel services, such as baggage and advance seat assignments are available for purchase separately at an additional charge. For a complete list of rules and regulations please refer to Frontier Airlines’ Contract of Carriage and Terms and Conditions.

Top 3 Casinos To Check Out In Belize

Introduction

Tucked away on the northeastern coast of Central America is the stunning country of Belize. More than 700,000 tourists visit this country every year to enjoy the terrific weather, natural beauty, and the people’s way of life. However, some of these tourists are looking for the perfect gambling holiday.

Although Belize can’t be compared with the likes of Las Vegas as regards the abundance of casinos, it’s still an attractive gambling destination. In fact, you will find casino venues in almost every town and city across Belize. Here are the top three casinos you can check out.

1. Tropicana Casino

If you love playing casino games online, check out platincasino.co.uk. However, for the perfect land-based casino experience, you’d want to visit Tropicana Casino. The casino is located at Newtown Barracks Road in Belize City, an address that is home to many restaurants and nightclubs.

The goal of Tropicana Casino is to be the leading gambling, hospitality, and entertainment powerhouse in Belize. When you visit the casino, you will have the chance to sample classic table games such as roulette, poker, and blackjack. In addition, you will also find a dozen or so slot machines.

2. Las Vegas Hotel & Casino

Just as the name suggests, this casino offers a real Vegas experience. The building combines a 59-room hotel with the convenience of a casino and an outdoor pool. As if that’s not enough, you will enjoy free parking, free Wi-Fi, as well as access to a fitness center.

The casino section offers a wide variety of games. There are about 500 state-of-art slot machines and more than 20 table games. The table games include Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Bingo, and Poker. The casino’s slot machines offer one of the most generous payouts in Central America. For even more convenient access to gaming, many players are turning to pay by phone bill casino not on GamStop options, which allow quick deposits without the need for traditional banking methods.

3. Ramada Belize City Princess Hotel

Located in the center of Belize City, this establishment features a casino, a marina, and two outdoor pools. As a visitor, you will enjoy free self-parking, continental breakfast in the restaurants, and free Wi-Fi services. In addition, there is also a fitness center and a nightclub.

The casino offers several table games including Blackjack, American Roulette, and Caribbean Stud Poker. You will also get an opportunity to choose among 300 slot machines. What’s more, the casino recently introduced a Texas Hold-em Poker Tournament for lovers of this exciting table game.

Conclusion

Although online gambling is the in-thing nowadays, gambling at a land-based casino still offers an unforgettable experience. If you have been thinking of a gambling holiday, then Belize should be your next destination. Though it has limited facilities, it can offer a welcome recess from a lot of sea and sand or from the secluded cruise-ship casinos.

The aforementioned casino venues will meet all your gambling needs if you visit Belize. Other popular establishments with casinos include Captain Morgan’s Retreat, Coco Beach Resort, and Black Orchid Resort. However, even as you gamble and enjoy yourself, make sure you do it safely and responsibly.

If you are traveling in Belize, but you yourself are from Sweden and miss your casinos, then go to the portal utlandskacasino.net and experience your emotions from the game.

*See our Disclaimer for release information.

Bryton Codd Signs Professional Volleyball Contract

Bryton Codd becomes the first Belizean to play professional volleyball in Europe! Today, Codd signed his first contract to play professional volleyball in the Mestaruusliga and the European Volleyball Confederation. Codd will be playing with the Perungan Pojat team in Rovaniemi, Finland for the next two years.

Codd previously played for the Briercrest Clippers in the tough Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference. His performance during the years earned him All-ACAC and even CCAA recognition!

We wish him nothing but success and prosperity in his volleyball career.

Lobster Season Opens

It is officially lobster season in Belize! Lobster season usually marks the official start of summertime in Belize with the usual lobster crawls and lobster fest celebrations.

This year, lobster season in Belize will run from July 1, 2021, to February 28, 2022. We take the opportunity to wish all Fishers a successful season.

Gentle Reminder of the Lobster Fishery Regulations:

  • The minimum carapace length is 3 inches
  • The minimum tail weight is 4 ounces
  • No person or establishment should have in possession any diced or fillet lobster
  • It is illegal to have any softshell (molting) Lobster or females with eggs (berried)
  • It is illegal to remove from any female lobster, any eggs or spawn, or the setae or fibre to which any eggs or spawn are or have been attached.
  • The closed season for Caribbean Spiny Lobster is March 1st to June 30th

Hurricane Elsa Forms in the Atlantic

Satellite imagery indicates that Elsa has become better organized, and radar data from Barbados and Martinique have shown attempts at eye formation. The formative northern eyewall passed over Barbados near 11-12Z, and hurricane-force winds were reported there at that time. The initial intensity is set at 65 kt based on those data. It should be noted that reports from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft suggest that the circulation is not well-developed at 700 mb, possible due to the rapid forward speed.

The initial motion is 290/25. There is little change to the forecast track or the forecast guidance since the last advisory. The guidance is in good agreement on a rapid west-northwestward notion to near the south coast of the Dominican Republic by 36 hr. After that, the general consensus is that Elsa should turn northward by 96 h through a weakness in the subtropical ridge created by a mid-latitude trough. However, the guidance is quite divergent around this consensus, with possible tracks ranging from a west-northwestward motion through the Yucatan Channel or western Cuba to a northward motion through the Bahamas. Thus, the latter portion of the track forecast remains low confidence.

The intensity forecast calls for a little more strengthening during the next 36 has Elsa moves through an environment of light westerly shear. After that, land interaction, along with less favorable upper-level winds over the Gulf of Mexico, is likely to cause weakening. The new NHC intensity forecast shows major adjustments from the previous forecasts based primarily on the initial intensity.

It should be noted that the average NHC track errors are 175 miles and 200 miles at days 4 and 5, respectively. Given the larger-than-normal uncertainty and because hazards will extend well away from the center of the storm, users are urged to not focus on the exact forecast points.

Key Messages:

Hurricane conditions are expected in the Hurricane Warning area in the Windward Islands for the next few hours. Tropical storm conditions are expected in other portions of the Windward and Leeward Islands. Hurricane conditions are expected in the Hurricane Warning area in Haiti on Saturday. Tropical storm conditions are expected with hurricane conditions possible along the southern coast of the Dominican Republic and in Jamaica.

Heavy rainfall from Elsa will move quickly across the Windward and southern Leeward Islands today, including Barbados. Outer rain bands will impact Puerto Rico late today into Saturday, and southern Hispaniola and Jamaica Saturday into Sunday. Flooding and mudslides are possible.

There is an increasing risk of strong winds, storm surge and rainfall impacts in portions of Cuba this weekend and early next week, with impacts also possible in the Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas. Interests in these areas should monitor Elsa’s progress and updates to the forecast.

There is a risk of storm surge, wind, and rainfall impacts in the Florida Keys and portions of the Florida Peninsula early next week. However, the forecast uncertainty remains larger than usual due to Elsa’s potential interaction with the Greater Antilles this weekend. Interests in Florida should monitor Elsa’s progress and updates to the forecast.

FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 02/1500Z 13.4N 61.2W 65 KT 75 MPH
12H 03/0000Z 14.6N 64.9W 70 KT 80 MPH
24H 03/1200Z 16.3N 69.8W 70 KT 80 MPH
36H 04/0000Z 17.8N 73.6W 70 KT 80 MPH
48H 04/1200Z 19.3N 76.4W 65 KT 75 MPH
60H 05/0000Z 20.7N 78.4W 55 KT 65 MPH
72H 05/1200Z 22.1N 80.5W 55 KT 65 MPH…INLAND
96H 06/1200Z 26.0N 82.5W 55 KT 65 MPH…OVER WATER
120H 07/1200Z 30.6N 81.5W 40 KT 45 MPH…INLAND

Source: NOAA/NHC

Belize Coronavirus Update

The Ministry of Health & Wellness Belize held a press conference yesterday announcing updated measures to take effect Sunday, July 4, 2021. These updated measures are a result of the possible discovery of a COVID variant (suspected Delta variant) found in persons from Ladyville Village in the Belize District, the Orange Walk District, and the Toldeo District.

The Delta variant of COVID-19 was first identified in India and is known as B.167.2. Mutations in the Delta variant make it replicate faster and evade the body’s immunity mechanism. According to WHO, it is the ‘fastest and fittest’ variant yet. The Delta variant is also moderately resistant to vaccines, particularly in people who have received just a single dose.

Active cases in Belize now stand at 290 as of today’s release with 49 New Confirmed Cases today.

Heightened measures include:

  • Curfew Hours
    • Sunday to Wednesday – 10 PM curfew remains
    • Thursday to Saturday – curfew is now 11 PM
  • Church services are now limited to 1 hour with 50% capacity and free-flowing ventilation throughout
  • Restaurants
    • 75% capacity for outdoor dining with free-flowing ventilation
    • 50% capacity for indoor dining with free-flowing ventilation (no air conditioning)
    • The Justice of the Peace system must be utilized
  • Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Companies
    • 50% capacity
  • September Celebrations
    • No Carnival and Parades
  • Mandatory Vaccination
    • Effective August 1, 2021, the following groups of Frontline workers MUST be vaccinated in order to provide services to the public sector:
      • Doctors
      • Nurses
      • Police
      • Military
      • Teachers
      • Tour Guides
      • Restaurant Owners/Workers
      • Casino Workers
      • Pastors/Priests
    • If any of the above-mentioned workers refuse to be vaccinated they will be required to present a negative COVID test every two (2) weeks.

The Ministry of Health & Wellness Belize is calling on all persons 18 years and older to get vaccinated. The Ministry also reiterated that even after being vaccinated, you are still required to continue wearing a face mask properly in public, maintain consistent physical distancing, avoid social gatherings, and wash and/or sanitize hands often. Please be safe and stay at home unless conducting essential business.