Belize & Covid19 Update: Where are We Now?

COVID-19. The virus that was declared a global pandemic on March 11 by the World Health Organization has rapidly reached most corners of the world…yes…including Belize.

On March 23, 2020, Belize confirmed their first case of COVID-19, on Ambergris Caye…imported by a citizen who had just been to the US…

Here’s MY update on this situation in Belize:

Belize Has Taken The Corona Virus Very Seriously and The Prime Minister Stated Yesterday That He Doesn’t See Opening the International Airport “Anytime Soon”

Let’s drill down to the details as released for April 30:

As of April 30, 2020, Belize had 18 confirmed cases of CoVid-19. And you can see all the details above but here are the most important numbers.

18 total cases
2 fatalities
13 recovered

1043 total tests

A very condensed timeline for Belize (population about 400,000)

• March 23: First Case of COVID-19 Announced in Belize – on Ambergris Caye, a Belizean returning from States – State of Emergency Declared for Ambergris Caye only for 3 days, all businesses closed, no one entering or leaving the island – her mother, Case 2, is found to be positive a few days later and island-wide State of Emergency is extended for 30 days
• March 29:  Case #3 identified in Belize City, the patient traveled from LA. Countrywide State of Emergency Announced
• April 2:  National State of Emergency goes into effect; non-essential businesses closed, curfew implemented, people told to stay at home, borders closed to non-citizens.
• April 5:  Borders Closed TO ALL, including citizens

As of today, we have gone 19 days without a new case of the virus.

• April 30: Prime Minister announces new 60 day State of Emergency with “substantial easing”

A new 60 Day State of Emergency was announced April 30th and went into effect May 1st. Our PM in an address to the country, this a re-start of “INTERNAL business and economic activity” and a “substantial easing”.

He noted that we can not declare “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED” but that this is an uneasy truce with the virus – and that there may be a second wave and then tighter measures would be re-introduced.

On the flip side, this State of Emergency can be revoked sooner by Parliament.

There has been a re-opening of travel between districts (Tropic Air flights and water taxis should resume soon on a limited schedule). Government offices, business people like accountants, real estate, etc can get back to work. Stores (wholesales and retailers) can re-open. Hotels can open for Belizean visitors, beauty salons and barbers – serving one customer at a time.

SOCIAL DISTANCING MUST BE STRICTLY ADHERED TO. FACE MASKS MUST BE WORN IN PUBLIC.

(In fact, the Ministry of Health announced this morning:  Physical distancing in terms of COVID-19 is part of the new norm – at least for the next two years.)

There are INCREASED penalties for crossing the border as well as other infractions. For the FULL Statute, click here for Statutory Instrument 65.

So to the question that I think everyone is asking…

When Will Belize Open Her Borders?

Borders are closed.  The international airport is closed.  There ARE two sold-out repatriation flights later this week.  May 6 from Belize to Toronto on WestJet and May 7th, Belize to Houston.

But this is not the direction that people are asking about…

I have been getting emails every day and the short answer is: We don’t know. In the press conference yesterday, the PM and Minister of Health mentioned that they are waiting for an Internationally Approved and reliable rapid response test so that we can re-open for Tourism. The biggest single sector of our economy.

Here are the Prime Minister’s words from yesterday that outline what we can expect.

“We are hopeful…that there can soon be an acceptable rapid test that would then allow us to administer the test to every visitor that is coming to Belize. Short of that, it is going to be a while. I don’t see us reopening the airport any time soon and our best bet for an accelerated opening is the certification, the approval of the rapid tests.”

Around the world, this is entire situation is an incredibly tricky balancing act (life vs. livelihood) that our elected officials have to make based on data that seems to change each day.  ANYONE who says that they HAVE THE ANSWER is, in my opinion, not worth listening to you.

Open:  Let people get sick, possibly immune on the other side (developed countries showing at best a .05 to 1% fatality rate)…we DO NOT have a first-world hospital system and the elderly and sick generally live with their family (diabetes and obesity is certainly an issue here)..this will not be a quick and painless experience.  Potentially have issues with visitors getting ill/dying in our country.  (There is a small but vocal expat group “lobbying” for this.)

Close:  The largest sector of our economy at a complete stand-still. Unemployment and all the horrible things that come with that – hunger, mental health issues, debt, potential inability to pay Mexico for electricity.  But this also implies that we believe that our minimal number of infections is a direct effect of the quarantine and community effort.

We have not really seen the in-between…

I think many eyes are on the United States and on our neighbors to the north. All areas that are re-opening slowly.  Right now the Yucatan, Quintana Roo and Mexico are seeing an upswing in cases…and everyone is waiting for news (and hoping for the best) of the new state re-openings in the US.

Where to Get the OFFICIAL information?

The Government of Belize Press Office puts out frequent official announcements.

LASTLY, people have been asking me how they can help in San Pedro – please consider Hope Haven, which is helping to feed people across the island and there is a GoFundMe fundraiser happening for the Tour Guides of San Pedro.

SAGA Humane Society is working on a shortened schedule and BUSY…they have so many beautiful cats and dogs…

Please let me know if you know of any other groups looking to help!

Here’s a great little video from Belize and Caribbean Lifestyles. We miss you!