Belize has registered eight hundred and seventy cases of the novel coronavirus. Seven hundred and sixty-five are active cases – three hundred and thirty-two are females and four hundred and thirty are males. Ninety-three persons have recovered and twelve persons have died. The latest infographic shows that fifty-two new positive cases were identified in three […]
During the press conference today, Director of Health Services Doctor Marvin Manzanero confirmed that the Belize Central Medical Lab has caught up with backlogged samples. And as reported, rapid testing will now be introduced to ease the burden. Doctor Manzanero says that the lab technicians managed to catch up with the backlog with the more than […]
Public officers on the frontline of the fight against COVID-19 will also be tested as required, that’s according to PM Barrow, who emphasized earlier today that government’s resources, in respect of rapid and PCR tests, will be made available for use to test police officers, nurses and other personnel. Prime Minister Dean Barrow “We […]
From rapid testing to the inventory at the Ministry of Health. The number of testing kits, as well as personal protective equipment for medical personnel on the frontline of the war against COVID-19 has been an area of concern for many in the public health sector. The Ministry of Health has been able to procure […]
The present supply of resources available to the Ministry of Health can last up to nine months; that is with M.O.H. sharing drums of hand sanitizers and other items with various government departments, including customs and immigration. According to Doctor Gough, as many as twenty-six thousand COVID-19 tests can also be conducted with the existing […]
To close the news tonight, as of today there have been more than twenty four million confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally, including more than eight hundred thousand deaths reported to the World Health Organization. In Belize, rapid testing will be introduced for quicker results now that the P.G.I.A. is to open on October first. According […]
A twelfth person dies from COVID-19 in Belize. The most recent data released from the Office of the Director of Health Services confirmed late this evening that another person who was at a private institution in Orange Walk has died and that the post-mortem showed the individual was COVID-positive. The victim is David Wall of […]
So the new number of cases is fifty-eight. The Belize Central Medical Lab has been churning out COVID-19 test results every day. And despite their best efforts, the samples have been piling up as the positive cases increase and network of contacts become wider. But Director of Health Services, Doctor Marvin Manzanero says that the […]
The Central Lab is admittedly limited in resources, so is COVID-19 testing a possibility in private sector? It can be, according to Doctor Marvin Manzanero. Presently, the private medical facilities can only swab for the virus in their suspected patients after which the swab is sent for processing at the Central Medical Lab that is […]
Are you using the right face mask? The type you choose could make a big difference. When it comes to slowing the spread of COVID-19, not all masks are equally effective. Tonight in Healthy living, you’ll find out which face coverings have been found to protect you the best. Marleni Cuellar, Reporting Even before […]
There are thirty more COVID-19 cases to report tonight. The Ministry of Health says that the new cases came out of a batch of over two hundred and fifty samples. If you saw the infographics earlier today, you would have noticed that the number of deaths increased by one, bringing the total to eleven. That […]
Back to the eleventh death. That victim is fifty-year-old Teresita ‘Tely’ Cruz of San Felipe. We reported on Cruz’s case on Tuesday – and as we shared from our interview with her son – Cruz was swabbed after she died. The housewife and mother of five experienced some fever and shortness of breath last week […]
Two suspected COVID-19 patients from San Pedro were rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital late this evening. According to a colleague on the ground in San Pedro, two elderly persons were experiencing respiratory complications and needed to be emergency lifted from the island and taken to the national referral hospital. In these images captured […]
The People’s United Party launched its health plan this morning and we will come to that later in the newscast. This morning, the virtual event included experts in the sector discussing various elements of its blueprint. But the elephant in the room was the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, there are a myriad of complaints on the […]
As the coronavirus pandemic batters the health system, the People’s United Party this morning rolled out a health plan that it says will make healthcare efficient, affordable and accessible to all. The plans seeks to first and foremost roll out the national health insurance programme across the country , the upgrade of the K.H.M.H. and […]
While the P.U.P.’s health plan is broad, covering ten primary areas; how would it tackle COVID-19? The party plans on investing in technology and human capital by building epidemiological and laboratory capacities and improving the supply chain management to respond to the country’s needs during health security threats. Public Health Specialist, Doctor Daisy Garcia says […]
Prime Minister in waiting, John Briceño says that when the P.U.P. assumes control of the government, the COVID-19 plans take effect immediately to ensure that there are ample medical supplies and equipment to respond adequately to the pandemic. This includes working with the Government of Taiwan for best practices to overcome COVID-19. John Briceño, […]
John Briceño says that the P.U.P. recognises the need to address mental health challenges across the country. Technology must be used to develop professional virtual mental wellness services in partnership with advocacy groups, N.G.O.s and schools. But Briceño says that investment must also be made in the health facilities in the Punta Gorda and Belmopan […]
We start our newscast tonight with the death of another San Felipe resident in the Orange Walk District, where the number of COVID cases is increasing. She is fifty-year-old Teresita Cruz, better known as “Tely.” She is also the sister of the recent COVID-19 victim, Natalio Wicab. Cruz was being transported to the hospital on […]
So, at this time, the family doesn’t know if Teresita Cruz’s death is due to COVID-19 as the results are being processed. Eldon Cruz reports that the family members who had symptoms are doing better and while no other family member is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, but they have all been swabbed. On the Phone: […]
There are seventeen new COVID-19 cases. Those results were released earlier this afternoon. This batch of tests shows majority of the cases are for Corozal, with a few for Orange Walk. Today, Director of Health Services, Doctor Marvin Manzanero gave us an update on those cases and says that more are being processed with some […]
At this time, the Ministry of Health has a team of officers working in the north where there is an uptick in COVID-19 cases. The ministry is keeping its eyes on San Felipe, August Pine Ridge, and Yo Creek where a large number of samples are being collected. In San Felipe, for instance, twenty-five persons […]
A fear of spread has been dispelled at a child care facility in Belize City. News Five has confirmed that eight resident minors at the Dorothy Menzies Childcare Centre have tested negative for COVID-19. Last week, a teenage girl at the centre tested positive for the novel coronavirus and there were mounting concerns that other […]
On the matter of Caribbean Chicken in Blue Creek, Doctor Marvin Manzanero says that the ministry has been in contact with the poultry producer. The company, he says, has committed to scale up prevention measures and at this time, healthcare workers are still trying to track down workers from that company. He notes, however, they […]
Today we spoke with village Chairman Margarito Andrades who shared that since the death of Teresita Cruz, residents are scared and clamouring to be tested simply because they are workers at the Caribbean Chicken. He says that so far twenty-eight villagers have shared that they are experiencing signs and symptoms – these individuals he says […]
