Reopening the P.G.I.A. Will Pose a Challenge…

Last week, Prime Minister Dean Barrow announced a tentative date for the reopening of the Philip Goldson International Airport to allow for international visitors to resume travel to Belize. July first is the earliest date on which the airport can reopen.  Director of Health Services, Doctor Marvin Manzanero says that the reopening of this port of entry will pose a challenge, even if the country has rapid testing capabilities.

Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services

“That’s a question that has a changing answer every day. We are in discussion with partners in the region, and looking at that, I can’t say that it is the same thing for Central America because most airports are now, at least partially, open for commercial flights. I know neighbouring Cancun, for example, never really locked down the airport. So for us, we might be the ones in the region. I don’t know if there is a straight answer because we are still looking at process flows; how potential arriving patients or passengers will be coming through the airport. We have had an initial discussion with B.T.B.”

Marvin Manzanero

Marleni Cuellar

“Have we acquired the rapid tests yet?”

Dr. Marvin Manzanero

“No we don’t have. But even if we have a rapid test, we still have to look at the process flow because how rapid will the results be. If you have a flight coming in of a hundred and eighty people and you have to swab all of them; I mean that is a delay already in terms of getting them through the airport. If anyone turns up positive, you have to send that sample for a confirmation to the Central Medical Lab; does that mean you then quarantine the entire plane until you have that result. Those are the kinds of questions that keep popping up.”