Here’s an update on a much loved COVID patient, pediatrician Dr. Cecilio Eck. He was transferred out of the COVID ward today and moved to the General Ward at a private hospital. While he is still a long way from being one hundred percent again, Eck is said to be doing better and his rehabilitation […]
On Monday, Tourism Minister, Anthony Mahler told News Five the outlook for Belize’s tourism industry is promising, with more flights and cruise ships beginning to call at our points of entry. But because COVID is in our midst and can quickly turn life upside down, steps have to be taken to balance safety and livelihoods. […]
There are some startling new revelations about how far-reaching COVID can be for some survivors. These emerged at the Belize Medical and Dental Association’s Annual Medical Congress. While children have not been dying of the disease, the new information reveals that even children who have not suffered from COVID have experienced other issues, including psychological […]
A significant portion of Belizeans suffer from some type of health condition. The latest statistics shared at last week’s Belize Medical and Dental Association’s Annual General Congress reveal a large number of the people dying of COVID in Belize suffer from co-morbidities. President of the BMDA, Dr. Uldine Wright, shared with News Five today what […]
And, there is good news to report tonight as a long term COVID patient has been able to leave the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Ashley McLaughlin finally tested negative after being in the COVID until for twenty-three days. The hospital’s Facebook page celebrated the achievement this afternoon with a group photo of McLaughlin surrounded by […]
Over the weekend, the Belize Medical and Dental Association issued a statement putting forward its position on the legalization of marijuana. It follows a survey that was conducted among its membership and takes on a more scientific point of view than the perspectives shared by other interest groups, including the churches. While the BMDA has […]
Last week Anglican Bishop, Reverend Phillip Wright said the Anglican Church in both Belize and the region is pushing congregations get vaccinated against COVID. One of the points of contention across denominations, however, is that while some church leaders say they will abide by the fifty percent maximum capacity for assembly, they view checking vaccination […]
Belize has a robust tourism high season approaching, despite the fact that the Delta variant swept through Belize in July, forcing another cutback on tourism arrivals and mass gatherings and other social events. Today Minister of Tourism, Anthony Mahler shared that more flights will start to arrive in Belize this month. Anthony Mahler, Minister […]
While the COVID numbers have been on what seems to be an everlasting upward trend, the numbers have begun to show a downturn in the Belize District. This is significant because Belize City is one of the areas where the Delta variant was spreading rampantly. But Deputy Regional Manager for the Central Health Region, Dr. […]
Last night we told you about Cabinet’s approval for booster shots. Currently, these are being made available for persons sixty years and older, persons with co-morbidities, and health care workers. A booster shot is basically a third shot of COVID-19 vaccine taken five months after taking the first two doses of vaccine. And, soon enough, […]
Belize is not the only country recommending booster shots for its citizens. Countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, Africa and North America are administering booster shots among their most vulnerable populations, including those who are sixty years and older. Deaths among vaccinated persons are the highest among the sixty to eighty year old […]
Currently booster shots are being recommended for persons who have taken two doses of the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines. We also asked Dr. Beer about the studies behind mixing and matching vaccines for the booster shot. Both the CDC and the FDA have reportedly given the green light for mixing and matching. It is an […]
While the number of new infections in the Belize District is now on the decline, the Central Health Region has now started to see an increase in the number of fake vaccination cards being presented and circulated. Dr Musa revealed that several surfaced over the past few weeks and were detected when health officials cross-checked […]
The Ministry of Health and Wellness has also begun to replace lost or damaged vaccination cards for people who have received their COVID vaccination. Those who show up to the vaccination points and request replacement vaccination cards will be given new ones, but are urged to take care of them. Dr. Melissa Musa, Deputy […]
On Tuesday, the Briceno administration introduced a motion, via a proposed legislation, to effectively do away with the office of the Director of Health Services. This would be achieved by bifurcating the role of the DHS. Two new senior positions would instead be created, including the offices of the Director of Hospital Services and the […]
Also opposing the motion by raising the concern that the proposed legislation seeks to circumvent the Public Service Commission, was NTUCB President Luke Martinez who sat in place of Senator Elena Smith at Thursday’s senate meeting. While the bill to include a union member on the board of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority is […]
Thirteenth senator Osmany Salas, who also spoke against the bill, agrees that the manner in which government is seeking to abolish the role of the DHS is questionable and that the lack of leadership in the public health sector is cause for serious concern amid the pandemic. Osmany Salas, NGO Senator “I think that […]
The post of Director of Health Services has been abolished and two new posts have been created in its place within the Ministry of Health and Wellness. These are Director of Public Health and Wellness and Director of Hospital Services. One month after the administration of Prime Minister John Briceno took office, former DHS, Dr. […]
In this week’s briefing, Cabinet expressed concern about the rising cost of fuel and agreed to a team to look at possible mitigation measures. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet ministers approved to draft a Public Private Partnership policy and the creation of a PPP Unit to mobilize private sector capita for development projects that […]
This evening, Nurse Lizette Bell, the Deputy Director of Nursing in the Ministry, gave further details about the COVID booster shots and eligibility during the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ Up 2 The Minute live stream this evening. Lizette Bell, Deputy Director of Nursing, MOHW “Effective immediately the ministry of health and wellness would […]
Testimonials from survivors as well as the loved ones of those affected by COVID-19 as well as the importance of vaccinations have been ventilated in the our news segment COVID-19 Chronicles. The pandemic continues to have a hold on the country – in areas of public health, the economy and tourism. But on the flip […]
We’ve been hearing about blood clot issues that COVID has had on survivors from other regions, and now, there are reports that Belizeans who have been infected with the virus are also having blood clot issues months later. President of the Belize Medical and Dental Association, Dr. Uldine Wright told News Five today that while […]
Dr. Wright said that from this past Monday and for the next four days, Belizean doctors are engaged with their international counterparts in the Belize Medical and Dental Association’s thirty-seventh Medical Congress discussing medicine and the coronavirus. What doctors abroad have been witnessing and coming up with to treat their patients could be of relevance […]
On Tuesday, we heard Internist, Dr. Fernando Cuellar say that members of the medical community were calling for mandatory vaccinations in Belize after several of their members, the most recent of whom is pediatrician Dr. Cecilio Eck has become infected with COVID. BMDA President, Dr. Uldine Wright told News Five today that their two hundred […]
The controversy over the reopening of churches continues as church leaders in Belize have called for another meeting with Prime Minister John Briceño to further discuss how Statutory Instrument 119 will be applied as it pertains to reopening even to the unvaccinated. Anglican Bishop, Philip Wright explained there will have to be more analysis of […]
