Family of Four Escapes Mandatory Quarantine in Dangriga

Marvin Manzanero

Border jumpers and repatriates present the only external threats of a second wave of COVID-19 in Belize, as the country’s borders and airport remain closed indefinitely.  Dangriga is one of two municipalities that have not recorded any cases of coronavirus thus far, though a family of four that recently entered the country from Honduras has reportedly escaped mandatory quarantine.  It is an incident that the Director of Health Services says the Ministry of Health is looking into.

Question

“How about the four people that came to Dangriga from Honduras?”

Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services

“We are following that up, I believe that would be the family that was reported to us that came in and apparently had escaped the quarantine facility.  We got that note late yesterday and I passed it on for the management team to go back and review to see whether in point of fact that is what has transpired.  I can tell you that from the Ministry of Health standpoint we have not indicated or cleared anybody to go and finish their quarantine at home or wherever they are going to go.  Quarantine is only being allowed for people who have a clear health reason for going home.  So we are following that situation, if it’s the same situation that we are talking about.”

Question

“What will be the recommendation for BPOs when the ending of the [Statutory Instrument] takes place?”

Dr. Marvin Manzanero

“There are specific guidelines that we are asked to follow.  I think there was a specific concern for one in Orange Walk that people were complaining was not following what is established.  So we are following that specific situation, but we have also been asked at the NOC meeting yesterday to come up with what specific, we as health would need for whence the SI, the state of emergency is lifted at the end of this month.  What specific mechanisms, what specific things would need to be in place in order for what happens after the state of emergency.  So we are going to be communicating that in a written document in terms of when you should wear a mask and those other situations that are currently in place partially because of the SI.”