Testing Timeline Changes for Repatriates!

While the Philip Goldson International Airport remains closed to international tourists, it was bustling with activities today.  Just after eleven, one hundred Belizeans came in on a repatriation flight.  After they exited the P.G.I.A., they boarded buses that carted them off to quarantine centres; images suggest that there was no social distancing.  During the press conference this afternoon, the Director of Health Services announced that they will be making some adjustments to the processing of repatriates. Doctor Marvin Manzanero says that they will no longer take a COVID-19 test when they arrive; instead, they will do so seven days after their arrival.

Marvin Manzanero

Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services

“We had close to a hundred people coming back today. Again, based on the guidelines and the way we are moving, today we started that. One of the key items that people are highlighting are how comes you are testing me and I am negative but I remain in a quarantine area. So, we are modifying that. If you recall back in May were testing not upon arrival but at day fourteen and we are finding out that people were positive and their quarantine period was extended. So, one of the changes we have made is that you will not be tested now upon arrival and you will be tested seven days after you have arrived. It is going to take on average seventy-two hours to process your results. So, at around day ten to twelve we should be making a decision to move people out of the quarantine area based on those results.”