Omicron Detected in the U.S.; What’s the Game Plan in Belize?

The omicron virus – the latest strain of COVID-19 – has been detected in the United States. Scientists from South Africa, where it was first identified, say that omicron is more transmissible and that so far, the symptoms have been mild. But it is the stresses to the healthcare system that is of great concern to medical professionals. Today, News Five caught up with Minister of Health and Wellness Michel Chebat was asked about the game plan when omicron inevitably finds its way to Belize.

Michel Chebat

Michel Chebat, Minister of Health & Wellness

“We do not have any travel bans that are gonna be imposed at this time, however, we do have increased surveillance at our land borders and across the country. We are on high alert for this variant. As we keep on saying and we are saying the vaccine is the safest way. We continue to encourage all Belizeans, twelve years and above to please come out and get vaccinated. This is a new variant; we still don’t know how it will act. We know that it spreads very rapidly. We don’t know yet the severity of it and so this is all new information coming to us. But we want to encourage everybody to come and please get vaccinated it is your best defence against this variant.”