All lottery draws will resume effective Monday, June 1, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. daily. Only the Sunday lottery will be played at 10:00 a.m. as normal.
Kindly note that any tickets purchased for the respective games dated April 2nd will be honored for the first draws of each game to be drawn on the dates below:
Boledo & Pick 3 – June 1, 2020
Fantasy 5 – June 2, 2020
Sunday Lottery – June 7, 2020
Players may contact Brads’s Gaming Company with all queries regarding the lottery draws at +501-223-1219 and we encourage you to continue utilizing MyBelize.Net for updates.
On this Friday evening over the eastern North Pacific Ocean, the shower and thunderstorm activity in association with a broad area of low pressure, located a couple of hundred miles south of the coasts of Central America and southern Mexico, is becoming better organized. Environmental conditions appear conducive for gradual development and a tropical depression could form during this weekend before the system moves northward and inland over Central America or southern Mexico. It has a medium (60 percent) chance of formation during the next 48 hours and a high (70 percent) chance during the next five days.
Regardless of development, this system is expected to produce heavy rainfall over portions of Central America and southern Mexico during this weekend and early next week. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides, especially in areas of mountainous terrain. See products from your local meteorological service for additional information. www.hurricanes.gov
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has today, recognized Michele Irving from Dangriga Town, representing Belize, as the 139th Commonwealth Point of Light in honor of her exceptional voluntary service supporting the most vulnerable during the COVID- 19 pandemic.
Michele is supporting the most vulnerable in her community during the current COVID- 19 crisis by coordinating the provision of goods and assistance to the elderly, survivors of gender-based violence and people living with HIV. Michele is also working with local NGOs to ensure that access to sexual and reproductive health services is maintained during the pandemic.
As part of the legacy of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London 2018, Her Majesty The Queen – as Head of the Commonwealth – is thanking inspirational volunteers across the 54 Commonwealth nations for the difference they are making in their communities and beyond, by recognizing one volunteer from each Commonwealth country every week. By sharing these stories of service, the Commonwealth Points of Light awards celebrate inspirational acts of volunteering across the Commonwealth and help inspire others to make their own contribution to tackling some of the greatest social challenges of our time, including the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Michele said: “It is indeed both humbling and exhilarating to be recognized for what I love to do. My life’s work is rooted in helping others. It is fuel by a sense of equity, equality and justice that is deeply rooted in my love and respect for humanity. ‘A luta continua.’”
Claire Evans OBE, UK High Commissioner in Belize, said: “It has given me great pleasure to present this Commonwealth Point of Light award to Michele on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen. Michele’s active contribution in her community over the last 25 years deserves this praise and recognition alone however her selfless dedication to supporting the most vulnerable in her community during this unprecedented time of Covid-19 is remarkable. Michele’s enthusiasm, determination and consideration for others is an inspiration and a wonderful role model.”
The Commonwealth is a diverse community of 54 nations that work together to promote prosperity, democracy and peace. The Heads of Government meeting brought together leaders from all the 54 Member countries to reaffirm common values, address shared global challenges and agree how to work to create a better future for all citizens, especially young people. Voluntary service is a vital part of this agenda, which is why Her Majesty The Queen has chosen to recognize outstanding volunteers across the Commonwealth in this special way.
The Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture issued a press release answering frequently asked questions regarding the 2020 Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) exams. The release confirmed plans to conduct the 2020 CXCs in a modified format as a result of COVID-19. The exams are scheduled for the last week in June through July 2020.
Radar imagery indicates that the area of disturbed weather located just offshore of the South Carolina Coast has become significantly better organized during the past few hours. Reports from an offshore buoy are showing that this system is producing tropical-storm-force winds. If these development trends continue, then this system is likely to become a tropical storm before it moves inland later today.
Heavy rainfall could cause flash flooding over portions of the Carolinas today. Gusty winds could also produce rough marine conditions and life-threatening surf and rip currents along the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas through today.
Effective today, May 15th, Statutory Instrument No. 72 of 2020, the Belize Constitution (Emergency Powers) Regulations, 2020, comes into effect.
In summary, the country remains under a state of emergency with all borders remaining closed. The curfew remains in effect for children under the age of 16 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and for adults from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. unless your are exercising which allows you to be out between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. only.
The new SI ushers in more relaxed measures, but the Attorney General urges Belizeans to only venture out with a specific purpose. He reiterated that these relaxed measures in no way means that we are able to roam the streets aimlessly and not practice social distancing.
Main points of note from the Attorney General’s “Ask the Experts” session held on May 14, 2020 are as follows:
pools, seas and rivers can now be enjoyed by Belizeans, but must be used subject to social distancing rules;
hotels can now reopen for local tourism only;
restaurants with outdoor seating areas can reopen, but must be used subject to social distancing rules;
masks are no longer required for those persons exercising between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.;
churches can reopen but can only have a maximum of 10 persons worshiping at any given time and children under the age of 12 cannot attend these public services;
cross district travel is now allowed, but for specific purposes and not for random trips (i.e. your trip must be for a specific purpose);
bars, casinos, discos/clubs remain closed;
lottery draws remain discontinued;
no parties/BBQs/picnics or-the-like are allowed at this time;
visits to family members are now allowed outside of curfew hours only; (MAKE NOTE OF THE HOURS OUTLINED ABOVE FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS AS THOSE HOURS DIFFER)
While Belize is one of only 12 countries in the world who are free of COVID-19, authority figures plead with the public to adhere to the regulations set in place, to continue wearing masks in public, and to practice social distancing.
The full updated Statutory Instrument No 72 of 2020 can be read here.
The National Hurricane Center has issued a special tropical weather outlook today, Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
For the North Atlantic…Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:
Special Tropical Weather Outlook issued to discuss the potential for tropical or subtropical development near the northwest Bahamas.
A trough of low pressure over the Straits of Florida is producing a large area of cloudiness and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions are expected to become conducive for development, and this system is likely to become a tropical or subtropical storm by late Friday or Saturday when it is located near the northwestern Bahamas. The system is then forecast to move generally northeastward over the western Atlantic early next week.
Regardless of development, the disturbance has the potential to bring heavy rainfall to portions of the Florida Keys, southeast Florida, and the Bahamas through Saturday. Tropical-storm-force wind gusts are also possible in the Florida Keys, southeast Florida, and the Bahamas during the next day or two. Hazardous marine conditions are also expected along the Florida east coast and in the Bahamas where Gale Warnings are in effect. See products from your local weather office and High Seas Forecasts for more details. An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate this system tomorrow, if necessary.
Formation chance through 48 hours…high…70 percent.
The time to prepare for a hurricane is before the season begins, when you have the time and are not under pressure. If you wait until a hurricane is on your doorstep, the odds are that you will be under duress and will make the wrong decisions. Take the time now to write down your hurricane plan. Know who issues evacuation orders for your area, determine locations on where you will ride out the storm, and start to get your supplies now. Being prepared before a hurricane threatens makes you resilient to the hurricane impacts of wind and water. It will mean the difference between being a hurricane victim or a hurricane survivor.
When preparing for the upcoming hurricane season keep the following in mind:
Complete a written plan
Have photo documentation of your valuables
Keep your important documents together for quick access
Share your plan
Help your neighbor
Help your neighbors prepare
Help your neighbors evacuate
Check-in after the storm passes
Strengthen your home
Cover windows
Trim trees
Secure loose outdoor items
Secure all doors
Move your car to a safe location
Get an insurance check-up
Check with your agent
Keep your documents with you
Consider flood insurance
Know your policy
Assemble disaster supplies
Food/Water
Medicine
Batteries, Radio, Chargers
Gas up
Cash on hand
Develop an evacuation plan
Find out if you live in an evacuation zone
Plan out a route
Follow evacuation orders
Plan for your pets
Determine your risk
Storm surge
Rip currents
Inland flooding
Tornadoes
Strong winds
While preparing for hurricane season, always follow the latest guidelines from the local Government, Ministry of Health and NEMO.
The local Ministry of Health announced today, that the last two active cases of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) have recovered as their second test is now negative!
Belizeans however, need to continue to exercise preventive measures across all sectors as the numbers in neighboring countries continue to go up.
Globally, as of 2:00am CEST, 5 May 2020, there have been 3,525,116 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 243,540 deaths, reported to WHO
Neighbouring Guatemala up to yesterday has reported 730 cases with 46 cases being in the Eastern (includes Peten) part of Guatemala and the neigbhouring state of Quintana Roo is reporting 956 cases up until midday today with a total of 24 cases in the neighbouring municipality of Othon P. Blanco (Chetumal included in this data).
Belize needs a community effort as we progress into the summer months in order to prevent any future cases of COVID-19.
Pause in Service Extended, In Combination with Gradual Schedule from Select Homeports
Carnival Cruise Line’s Ecstasy is docked amid the coronavirus outbreak on March 27 in Jacksonville, Fla. Carnival says it’s planning to resume cruises beginning in August
Sam Greenwood/Getty Images
Carnival Cruise Line advised guests and travel agents today of our plan to phase in a resumption in our North American service this summer, beginning on August 1 with a total of eight ships from Miami, Port Canaveral and Galveston. In connection with this plan, our pause in operations will be extended in all other North American and Australian markets through August 31.
The key elements of this plan include:
All North American cruises from June 27 to July 31 will be cancelled.
Beginning August 1, we plan to resume cruises on the following ships:
Galveston: Carnival Dream, Carnival Freedom and Carnival Vista
Miami: Carnival Horizon, Carnival Magic and Carnival Sensation
Port Canaveral: Carnival Breeze and Carnival Elation.
Other than the above referenced service from Galveston, Miami, and Port Canaveral, all other North American and Australian homeport cruises will be cancelled through August 31.
All Carnival Spirit Alaskan cruises from Seattle will be cancelled, as well as the Carnival Spirit Vancouver-Honolulu cruise on September 25 and the Honolulu-Brisbane transpacific cruise on October 6.
All Carnival Splendor cruises in Australia from June 19 to August 31 will be cancelled.
Impacted guests and their travel advisors are being notified by email, including options for a combined future cruise credit (FCC) and onboard credit (OBC) package, or a full refund. Booked guests can make their selection online, alleviating the need to contact Carnival’s customer service center, which is still operating in a work-from-home status due to locally-imposed office closures in South Florida.
We are committed to supporting all public health efforts to manage the COVID-19 situation. We are taking a measured approach, focusing our return to service on a select number of homeports where we have more significant operations that are easily accessible by car for the majority of our guests.
We will use this additional time to continue to engage experts, government officials and stakeholders on additional protocols and procedures to protect the health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities we serve. We appreciate the understanding and support of our guests and travel agent partners and look forward to welcoming them on board as the environment for travel and tourism improves.
