Belizeans Returnees are of Equal Concern Regarding COVID-19 Spread

Marvin Manzanero

While concerns are being raised about the reopening of the Philip Goldson International Airport one month from today and the idea of visitors spreading COVID-19 in the country, the primary concern, according to Doctor Marvin Manzanero, is Belizeans who will also be returning home and visiting friends and family.  That, he says, poses a more serious risk when the P.G.I.A. reopens on August fifteenth.

Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services

“Also, another thing that I need to stress, I know are concerned about when the airport opens and it seems from what‘s happening on social media that people are more concerned with the tourists.  In all fairness, I am very much concerned about the Belizeans returning home because the Belizeans returning home are anticipating that they are going to be going their families, they are going to be going to their communities to mix and mingle with people who they may not have seen in months and years.  That is a concern.  So we need to start educating ourselves if we have family in the U.S. who want to come back in August, September, October, we need start coming up with the plan as to how we are going to quarantine them wherever we are going to quarantine them once they arrive.  So please let‘s start having that discussion as well, not just about the tourists arriving.”