BELMOPAN, Belize – Belize health authorities have confirmed that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country faces a new wave of coronavirus (COVID-19) infections, with more than 600 active cases being reported.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness said that the Omicron BA.2 sub-variant is the most dominant strain in Belize and that it is now increasing its surveillance measures in business and other public places to identify and isolate positive cases early, particularly in the Belize and Cayo Districts where the infection rates are the highest.
We do have areas where we see more positive cases. The district of Belize has the highest number of positive cases and the highest positivity rate, followed by Cayo. Then in the other sections, we are not seeing the positivity rates we saw in the other waves.
“So, we are focused primarily on the Belize District, looking at the significant number of positive cases coming out of the Belize District. The Ministry of Health and Wellness we have now embarked on enhanced surveillance. Enhanced surveillance means we are not sitting down at the clinics waiting for sick people to come in.
We have restarted to go back into the community, public places, whoever calls us, we go in and do what we call a sweep. We swab all persons who would like to tap. This helps us to detect cases early. If we see issues before, we isolate patients.
Dr. Diaz-Musa said that consideration is being given to reinstating specific COVID-19 measures that have been relaxed as the country gears up for the National Agriculture and Trade Show Grounds in seven days which is expected to draw a large crowd.
In addition, Lobster Fest is scheduled immediately after, followed by Carnival in September. Notwithstanding, Dr. Musa recommends that event planners carry out their activities in a responsible manner to sustain the health and economy of the country while offering some recommendations.
“For event planners, our recommendations are outdoor, big large spaces, limited crowds if possible, hand sanitizing. Still have some measures in place that can control the spread. We know if you are outdoors, the distance is less likely than if you are in an air-conditioned room and the room is very tight, and everybody is sitting very close together.
“We have seen that almost 90 percent of persons in that environment get infected in the past. Whereas, if you have an outdoor something in your hard, lots of space, tables are spaced out, the spread was not as much. Also, if you are in these areas, it is essential to wear your mask to cover your face and mouth.
“Talk to your friend and family that you are going to whichever event you are going to. Is anybody sick? Is anybody at your home being isolated presently? Have you contacted anybody at your workplace to be concerned that you have been exposed? If the answer is yes, then don’t go. Don’t go to that function. At this point, we have got to start making the choices we know will help sustain the health of our country and our economy,” she adde4d.
Meanwhile, Dr. Fernando Guellar of Belize Medical Associates said it is important for Belizeans to continue with the various protocols to curb the spread of the virus.
“We have to stress the personal responsibilities of the handwashing, the distancing, the facemasks wearing, and using the vaccines and boosters as much as we can.
“No way, now how I think, I believe any lockdown makes sense, looking back at what we have learned from the past two years. So we shouldn’t even start a conversation about the lockdown. Let the kids continue in school.
We have been relatively good so far. Still expect that we will have lots of cases. I bet we will talk about COVID in 2023. It will not go away. We have to live with it and hopefully protect ourselves.
Belize has recorded 677 deaths and 58 332 infections linked to the virus over the past two years.
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