Vaccination Rates Up, but Judiciary and Police Still a Concern
Michel Chebat
And, while a large number of unvaccinated workers will have to pay out of pocket for bi-monthly COVID-19 tests, the Minister of Health and Wellness says he is encouraged by the uptake in vaccination among front-liners.
Michel Chebat, Minister of Health and Wellness
“In terms of persons who we have identified in the tourism industry, we have a hundred percent. In terms of customs, we have a hundred percent. Which is interesting, because the latest S.I. is mandating that any frontline worker who is at any of our border points who are not vaccinated must be redeployed? So, that affects customs, it affects immigration, it affects BAHA.”
Marleni Cuellar
“So they are at a hundred percent.”
Michel Chebat
“Yes, customs is at a hundred percent. Our health care workers are at ninety five percent, which is excellent. That is a good number. Our National Assembly, we are at seventy four percent. Let me clarify that does not mean that your Area Reps are not vaccinated. We look not only at the Area Reps, we look at the staff as well. And so, we need to work on that. Teachers are up at seventy two percent, which is a good number. A couple weeks ago we were at sixty percent, so we see a massive jump in their numbers. Immigration is at sixty one percent so they are doing better. The one we are looking at, which is of concern because they have so much interaction, is the judiciary. We have so many people attending the magistrate’s court. And, although some the Supreme Court matters are still being done by zoom, I think the criminal sessions are back on face to face, so we need to get folks in that sector vaccinated. They are at fifty nine percent. The other one that causes us some concern is the police. The police is at fifty one percent, and they really are at the frontline of this battle. They have interactions with our citizens on a daily basis, and they must do better, they have to do better.”
As more Belizeans continue to get vaccinated, the Minister of Health and Wellness says additional liberties will be given to vaccinated persons very soon.
