Arturo Godoy Junior is Laid to Rest
Arturo Godoy Jr.
Six-year-old Arturo Godoy Junior was laid to rest on Monday evening in his hometown of Orange Walk. Arturo died at the K.H.M.H. on Saturday. He was the first child in Belize to contract the deadly novel coronavirus and to die from the disease. The COVID-19 virus worsened Godoy’s health as he battled kidney disease for two years. He was rushed to the Northern Regional Hospital last week Monday as his lower body began to swell. Doctors there then referred Arturo to the K.H.M.H. where he was swabbed and later tested positive for COVID-19. His family believes that Arturo was not given the attention he required; in fact, they say that he died alone. Now the matter of where he contacted the virus is being raised. Doctor Marvin Manzanero believes that the boy got infected by the community.
Marvin Manzanero
Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services
“That would have been through contact tracing that the region is doing. I don’t have the particulars of that. But it would have been we assume, he comes from a community that would have active cases so that is where more than likely he would have gotten it.”
Hipolito Novelo
“So you don’t feel any sort of way? No symptoms?”
Arturo Godoy Sr., Father of Deceased
“I don’t feel anything, boss. I don’t feel anything. I don’t have any flu. I don’t have any cough. I don’t have anything.”
Arturo Godoy Sr.
Hipolito Novelo
“Okay so how many people live in the yard?”
Arturo Godoy Sr.
“Like here it is like seven.”
Hipolito Novelo
“I would imagine that a lot of you guys go out and bring in back. Don’t you think that one of you bring it and he caught it? He started to show symptoms because he is sick.”
Arturo Godoy Sr.
“I do realize all of that. We live apart, me, my wife and my boys. They know that their nephew is sick. They know. They don’t go over there. That is why he has his phone. From up here, they call him. They play games together. They don’t go and see him because they don’t want to sick the little boy.”
