78 New COVID-19 Cases Brings Total to 553

A record number of positive cases of COVID-19 was confirmed overnight putting the number of positive cases for the country at an alarming five hundred and fifty-three. Stann Creek District recorded an extra case, while Corozal went up by seven. There were a total of fifteen new cases in the Cayo District, eight of which were identified in Belmopan and then the largest number – fifty-five – was recorded for the Belize District. Of that number, thirty are residents from San Pedro which remains the area with the highest number of cases overall.  Unfortunately, there were no recovered cases and as we said at the top of the newscast, an elderly woman has been confirmed as the fifth person to die from complications due to the virus. Three persons remain intubated at K.H.M.H.

Marvin Manzanero

Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services

“Seventy-eight new cases out of a record number in terms of test in one given day; we had three hundred and thirteen samples processed. Two different mechanisms that we are using: the routine PCR testing and Gene Expert Technology. A good amount of those samples, thirty of those are from San Pedro. No samples were run for Orange Walk so anticipate samples will come out from Orange Walk today. A cluster in Belmopan who are contacts of previously identified cases, some in Corozal and others in Belize City. We are trying to piece the Belize City ones this morning and throughout the course of the day because contingent on what we find, we should be able to see whether there is community transmission in Belize City or where the links are for the Belize City samples.”

These new cases involve more officers from the Coast Guard and the BDF, the Department of Youth Services and a well-known mental health therapist who we will hear later.