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.
Summary of Statutory Instrument No. 62 of 2020 which came into effect on April 26, 2020.
These regulations come into effect on April 26, 2020 and remain in effect for the duration of the period of public emergency.
Keep in mind that the restriction on social activities is still in effect and that the following activities are against the law for the duration of the state of emergency:
no person shall host nor attend a private party which includes any person from outside of the immediate household of the house occupant;
no person shall host nor attend a recreational or competitive sporting event;
no person shall host nor attend a wedding which hosts ten or more persons other than the bride, bridegroom, official witnesses and the marriage officer;
no person shall host nor attend a banquet, ball or reception;
no person shall host nor attend any social event;
no person shall host nor attend any other ceremony of public worship in any facility or public place which involves the participation of any member of the general public or a congregation;
no person shall host nor attend a funeral, except ten members of the immediate family and at least one officiant and essential mortuary staff;
no person shall host nor attend a meeting of a fraternal society, private or social club or civic association or organization.
Note that every person who contravenes any of the provisions of these Regulations or incites or attempts to incite any other person to contravene any of these Regulations commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) or to imprisonment for two (2) years.
Belize, it seems, is well on the way to recuperation from COVID-19 as we are happy to report 2 official cases of recovery. Patients 1 and 2 have both been declared free of the Coronavirus after more than a month in isolation. This is good news for our little country and with the last confirmation of a COVID-19 infection in Belize on April 11, 2020 most would say that Belize is well on its way to being free of the constraints of the Coronavirus. But with progress must come some amount of caution as we seek to resume some sense of normalcy in Belize.
With the state of emergency still in effect, Belizeans can’t help but wonder what will happen with schools. At a press conference held by the Ministry of Education earlier this week, a few key points were stated:
The re-opening of schools before the end of the previously established school year is not guaranteed;
Home- based learning, working with school leaders, teachers, international partners at all educational levels must continue;
Academic and psycho-social support must be provided;
The Ministry will continue to upload online resources on a daily basis to their website;
Daily lessons will be broadcast on radio and TV stations by next Monday, April 27th 2020;
Printed publications for pre- and primary school levels will be done via a newsprint, thousands of copies will be available via banks and grocery stores country wide. It will contain two weeks’ worth of work;
The Ministry of Education will assist to provide printed materials for secondary school levels via a similar newsprint format;
The role of teachers at the pre- and primary school level is to inform and encourage parents to use the various learning formats and to check in on students’ progress as best as possible;
High schools and It-vets will develop online resources as best as possible and provide students with a variety of content;
Teachers are to enroll in online training programs;
Special assistance (remedial) should be offered to those that need it;
All levels must plan for promotion. Pre-school students will be promoted automatically; All students from infant 1 to standard 5 will be promoted automatically;
All students in standard 6 who have met their school requirements and or have reached the age of 14 will be graduated automatically;
High-school students will also be promoted automatically;
Regional and national exams- The BJAT will not be administered this year but will be administered at the start of the new school year in Std 4. The PSE will not be administered this year but rather be used for 1st form students as an assessment;
Belize can not participate in this year’s CXC and the Ministry is trying to find a way forward regarding these exams. Grants and scholarships aligned to CXC results are being discussed further;
Registration for the new school year – all educational institutions are to extend their deadlines accordingly.
While we pray that no additional cases will be reported in the future, we anticipate an update to the current state of emergency next week. Until the state of emergency has expired, we urge Belizeans to continue practicing good hand washing, refrain from touching your face, stay home unless absolutely necessary to go out, and remain up-to-date with changes and releases from the Government of Belize, and local Health and Education Ministries with MyBelize.Net.
As the quarantine period progresses, three new cases of COVID-19 have been identified. These new cases come as a result of enhanced surveillance exercises being conducted as a part of a wider mapping of persons who have been in close contact with previously infected patients.
Two of the three new cases stem from the Corozal District while one hails from Belize City. While all three patients are asymptomatic, they all remain in self-isolation in their respective homes. It is imperative to note that results for the front line workers from both the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) and the Belize Healthcare Partners Limited (BHPL) have come back negative for COVID-19.
We encourage the public to continue practicing social distancing if you must go out to access essential services and to practice good hygiene at all times. Let’s stay home to save lives.
Easter in Belize is usually a chance to enjoy sun, sea, good food, travel, and cool drinks. However, Easter 2020 is one that no one in Belize will soon forget. With the confirmation of the first case of the Corona virus (COVID-19) in Belize in early March, a time that’s usually highly anticipated in Belize quickly became a period of reflection and preparation.
Everyone who’s been in Belize for Easter knows that the months of March and April in Belize are some of the busiest months for the cruise tourism industry and a time enjoyed by everyone with cool sea breezes and lots of travel in-country and to neighboring Mexican provinces. Easter to Belizeans is a welcome break as one of the year’s first extended weekends (usually 4 days long) so most take advantage of the days to travel to remote locations, and with Belize being a majority Christian country, to celebrate the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Belizeans are accustomed to hot cross buns made fresh on Holy Thursday, fried fish on Good Friday, the Cross Country Cycling Classic on Holy Saturday, and Church followed by the distribution of Easter baskets and annual Easter egg hunts on Easter Sunday for the kids.
Though much traveling cannot be done for Easter 2020 and the annual cycling classic along with all other annual events (including physically attending church) have been cancelled, this should be a time of reflection and praise for good health and all the little things we have that so many others around the world do not. Let us be thankful for a peaceful country, food on our table, clothes on our backs, good health, comfort, love, happiness, knowledge, protection, and family.
Let us not forget the reason we celebrate the Lenten season and remember why we are able to look forward to another Easter in Belize. Have a safe and blessed Easter weekend!
In the wee hours of what would normally be one of the most somber days of the year in Belize, Good Friday, the Ministry of Health confirmed its 10th case of COVID-19 and subsequently reported hours later that Patient #10 has passed away. Along with a summary of events that led to the patient’s death, the Ministry assured the public that a mapping exercise, which includes immediate contacts and health care workers is presently ongoing.
In light of these events, and the possibility of widespread transmission of the virus, the Prime Minister addressed the nation this afternoon and advised that, after consultation with the National Oversight Committee, starting tomorrow, Saturday, April 11, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. the entire country of Belize will be placed under quarantine. This strict quarantine will last for an initial 14 days and may be extended as necessary as the situation progresses.
This new quarantine period will allow for only procuring of food, medicine, fuel and tending to finances. These essential services will operate during reduced working hours and all public transportation will cease (this includes taxi service). Masks and gloves must now be worn when venturing out to procure essential items while the various essential service providers must provide their staff with these personal protective items.
The mandatory quarantine period has also been extend from 14 to 21 days. This decision comes as a result of follow-up tests done on the first two patients which returned positive results, indicating they have not fully recovered, despite being asymptomatic.
The Prime Minister reminded the public that the unemployment relief program will also be fully functional next week with monies in hand for disbursement. Please be reminded that you can find out more about the program, access the application, or see if you qualify at https://portal.covid19.bz/individual/index.php.
We extend heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of both patients who lost their lives as a result of COVID-19 and send up prayers for our nation during this epidemic. We cannot express how appreciative we are for all our front line workers – doctors, nurses, police officers, soldiers, port personnel, grocery store employees, water suppliers, utility workers, delivery persons, bakers, government employees, media personnel, their families, and all others who risk their lives for the betterment of our beloved country during this very difficult time.
We encourage Belizeans to continue to practice social distancing, wear your masks and gloves when in public, cover your coughs and sneezes, stay home unless absolutely necessary, and wash your hands properly! May God bless our nation.
On March 22, 2020, Belize registered its first official case of the Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. Since then, the country has performed 390 screening tests of which 381 were negative, 9 persons registered as positive with none fully recovered, and 1 deceased. Though the number may seem minuscule in comparison to other larger countries who have thousands of cases, Belize has taken a proactive approach in trying to keep the virus under control among its population of merely 374,000+ persons.
Although it may seem that these heightened measures may be a little too much too soon, these heightened proactive measures may very well be what’s keeping this little nation’s numbers so low. Since the announcement of the first confirmed case on March 22nd, Belize has implemented many changes ranging from declaring an initial state of emergency for San Pedro, Ambergris Caye to border closures to travelers. With the confirmation of subsequent cases came more stringent measures including a nationwide state of emergency which came into effect on April 1, 2020. This nationwide state of emergency came with its own set of regulations issued by the Quarantine Authority of Belize in accordance with Section 6 of the Quarantine Act, Chapter 41 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011 as enacted by Statutory Instrument number 38 of 2020. Some of the main actions enacted under the regulations are as follows:
Countrywide state of emergency declared until April 30, 2020.
All borders are closed to incoming and outgoing travelers (including Belizeans) until the state of emergency has been lifted.
Social gatherings limited to no more than 10 persons.
Any person entering Belize from any border point will be placed in mandatory quarantine at their own expense, up to BZ $110.00 per day for accommodation and meals.
Effective March 13, 2020 all cruise ship calls to Belize have been suspended.
Social distancing must be practiced during the quarantine period.
Although local transport buses may continue to operate, bus owners must keep to the seating capacity of the bus. Once a bus arrives at a terminal all passengers must disembark, and full sanitation of the bus must be done. Before any passenger can board the bus, each passenger must wash and sanitize their hands at the conveniences provided at the terminals.
Any business that has not been designated an essential service remains closed until further notice.
Essential businesses can only operate between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
The Cayo District is on a 14-day lock-down effective 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2020.
The Government of Belize has also implemented a COVID-19 Unemployment Relief Program in response to the economic effect of COVID-19 under which qualified persons can seek supplemental compensation at a rate of BZ $150.00 every 2 weeks over a 12-week period or BZ $100.00 every 2 weeks over a 12-week period, depending on the category under which a person qualifies. Get more info, access the application or see if you qualify at https://portal.covid19.bz/individual/index.php or read more about the program in the following press release:
Belizeans are encouraged to continue to practice social distancing, cover your coughs and sneezes, stay home unless absolutely necessary, and wash your hands properly!
