Some Celebrating End of Mask Wearing; Others Not So Sure
It’s All Fool’s Day, but there’s really no prank being played with the removal of the mask restriction. Effective today, April first, you are no longer mandated to wear a mask and go about freely without a nose and mouth covering without having to look over your shoulders. So today, News Five’s Duane Moody and cameraman Joel Wesbey headed to downtown Belize City, and they found a mixture of those relieved by not having to wear masks, but still being cautious, while others were simply not taking any chances because COVID is still here.
Duane Moody, Reporting
You can breathe a little easier – literally – as G.O.B. has passed an S.I. to effectively remove the mandatory use of masks as of today. In downtown Belize City, many were not wearing masks, saying that the lifting of the restriction is welcoming.
Mr. Alvarez
Mr. Alvarez, Belize City Resident
“I excited fi noh have on mask. I mi always look forward to this day. The last couple of years was really confining. I mi can’t breathe properly and so, to be able to walk around without mi mask, to move around, dah wah major relief for me, personally. I feel good about that.”
Duane Moody
“For your family too?”
Mr. Alvarez
“For family, for everybody. Well I only could speak for myself. I think the restrictions, some people need to do it on their own. But I need to be out I need fuh breathe and so not having the mask is a welcoming opportunity for me and I appreciate it a lot.”
Esther Vaughan
Esther Vaughan, Belize City Resident
“It feels good cause I could walk freely. The mask make yo kinda feel like yo start up with sinus and stuff. So it feel kinda good, but I still di watch over mi shoulders.”
The cultural shift to a pre-COVID way of moving around without mask will take some time to get used to. So today, there were those who still wore masks because even though the mask mandate is no more, they say COVID is still real threat to their health and so they have to protect themselves.
Irma Cattouse
Irma Cattouse, Belize City Resident
“I know the mask protect us, so I wanna be safe.”
Duane Moody
“So even though dehn say yo noh have to wear mask no more, you still want to wear your mask?”
Irma Cattouse
“I still want to wear my mask cause I think it save me, it protects me.”
Melisha Benguche
Melisha Benguche, Belize City Resident
“I have on my mask because I just step out of the bank and I notice a lot a crowd deh round still, so I decide to keep it on. And when I deh by myself, then I wah take off mi mask.”
But then there were those who weren’t wearing masks, but were still very cautious. They carried their masks inside their pockets or bags and depending on the circumstances – whether it’s entering an establishment or in a crowded area – they will put on their masks.
Manuela Baki
Manuela Baki, Punta Gorda Resident
“After all this time, I feel that it is safe not wearing it right now because of the COVID-19, but for your safety we must always where the masks.”
Duane Moody
“So you guys will still be wearing masks?”
Manuela Baki
“Yes, for my safety I will use it.”
Duane Moody
“When though? When will you be using it?”
Manuela Baki
“Well whenever I am in public places and so, I will likely wear it.”
Edna Taylor-Flores
Edna Taylor-Flores, Sand Hill Resident
“It actually feels good, but at the same time we still have to be careful so it depends on the situation that you are in. if you are out in the open, it is fine – you don’t have to wear it – but if you are in a crowded place, you still need to look out for yourself. But it feels good. Whenever I enter a building and I see too many people or even on the street and I am walking ad I see other people don’t have it on and I am in a clustered space, then I put it on.”
Esther Vaughan, Belize City Resident
“I still noh hundred percent, but I still keep mi six feet and what’s not.”
Duane Moody
“So you still di carry your mask with you still?”
Esther Vaughan
“Yes I am. It is in my back pocket, just in case.”
Duane Moody
“When will be the time that you feel you’ll need to pull it out?”
Esther Vaughan
“When I am around too much people cause yo know people noh like keep dehn six feet. So I just haul it out and put it on back.”
Duane Moody
“So still have it as a precaution, basically?”
Esther Vaughan
“As a precaution. I noh ready fi dead yet. (Laughs)”
Essentially, there is the individual responsibility that each person has to protect themselves from COVID-19, which is still here. Duane Moody for News Five.
