Mask Mandate Ends for Outdoors; No COVID Tests for Belizeans Coming Back From Overnight in Chetumal

While the curfew has been lifted, and people are enjoying their first day in almost two years of not having to wear masks outdoors, the amended Statutory Instrument does still require people to wear masks in closed space settings. In order to avoid confusion, this is what the S.I. states: every person shall wear a face mask indoors or in a closed space such as at church services, wedding ceremonies, funeral services, wakes and repasts, at social club events, and receptions. You also still need to wear them in government buildings, inside all types of stores, and when travelling on public buses, taxis, boats, and airplanes. The S.I. also reminds managers that it is still a violation to allow employees at the workplace without wearing masks and for not keeping social distancing. Gymnasiums must still only function at seventy-five percent of their maximum capacity. While social distancing remains in gyms, people are not obligated to wear masks during their work-out sessions. However, they must enter the buildings wearing their masks. Churches and other places of worship also must still function at only seventy-five percent capacity at any given time and attendees must wear their masks. There is no requirement now for church goers to be vaccinated. Unvaccinated tourists entering Belize will still be required to take a COVID test, while vaccinated people who can show proof of their immunization will not be required to test for COVID. Belizeans leaving the country must be fully vaccinated and those travelling to Chetumal no longer have to take a test to reenter Belize, regardless of how long they stay in Mexico. Visiting foreign nationals who do not stay in Belize for longer than one day do not have to purchase travel insurance.