Dr. Cuellar Says Variant Arrival Could Be Catastrophic for Belize

Fernando Cuellar

News Five also asked Doctor Cuellar about the chances of a new variant entering Belize, even with the protocols being put in place at the borders, and the implications for Belizeans if a variant does enter the country. He says this could be catastrophic.

Dr. Fernando Cuellar, Belize Medical Associates

“If we refer to different arguments like what doctor Musa put forward introducing different variants and our vaccination rate to go up before that happens, those are valid arguments that need to be addressed also. We would want those vaccinations to be a little bit more. Realistically we can’t reach heard immunity before we open up because that won’t happen. But we want our vaccination program to run a little more distance. I can’t see if we get a few thousand tourists if it would solve our economic crisis. I mean we could not pay a seven million dollars coupon last week, so we need to be careful.”

Paul Lopez

“Can you speak to reality of these different variants, the reality of the risk there?”

Dr. Fernando Cuellar

“Catastrophe will happen. We can read articles and we have been doing it exhaustively. For example the AstraZeneca vaccine is now proving to be effective against it. So we could have very scientific discussions about whether or not a vaccination will cover the variant. But differently if one gets in here and havoc reaches it won’t take many numbers. Look what is happening in Trinidad and Tobago for example, in Jamaica where they have played Russian roulette with the virus and we see who is losing now. Go an interview and let the people at the bottom in the Ministry of Health at the bottom tell you indeed. And nuh believe no C.E.O. from any ministry, please.”