Doctor Marvin Manzanero shared that the chances of more COVID-19 positive repatriates is likely considering that more people are returning home. But the Ministry of Health is not worried about these repatriates because there is a system in place that screens and tests them before they are placed in quarantine. Belize’s concerns, however, are the […]
One of the major reasons why border jumpers are a concern for the ministry is because they are coming from neighbouring countries where COVID-19 cases are on the rise. The numbers in Guatemala and Mexico have been increasing in the last few days – and those neighbouring municipalities are a growing concern. Doctor Marvin Manzanero […]
Doctor Marvin Manzanero is keeping a close eye on the developing COVID-19. The cases in Mexico are increasing every day and it is reported that a mother there transmitted the virus to her triplets. The triplets were born on May eighth to a woman, who was also positive, but asymptomatic. Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director […]
As border jumpers present a real threat to the health system, the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority Workers Union is engaged in discussions with the hospital’s C.E.O. and management regarding cost-cutting measures. One of those measures involves the termination of professional contracts. In May, the K.H.M.H.A. cut ties with Ophthalmologist, Doctor Amin Hegar. Last week, […]
Back to today’s Ask the Expert’s Webcast…while not enough is known about the vertical transmission as yet, what health officials do know is that there is no treatment for COVID-19 on the market. While there were reports of exploring a steroid for treatment of potential cases that hasn’t materialized. And another point that medical professionals […]
As you’ve been hearing in recent positive cases in Belize, they have been identified as asymptomatic. Today, Doctor Marvin Manzanero highlighted what this means – essentially these positive persons may not be showing any obvious signs of illness but they can still spread the virus. Here’s how he explains it. Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director […]
A rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases reported in neighbouring Mexico and Guatemala has placed Belize on edge since it shares borders with both countries. Despite all border points remaining closed during the state of emergency, it is anticipated that the Philip Goldson International Airport may very well reopen before our borders. That’s […]
The Central Health Region is the unit of the Ministry of Health responsible for the on the ground logistics for those repatriated persons who are swabbed when they arrive at the Philip Goldson International Airport and then placed in mandatory quarantine. As you know, Belize recorded a twenty-third case of COVID-19; it is a woman […]
In the fight against the novel coronavirus, the Ministry of Health has received further assistance from the private sector. UNICOMER Belize, in collaboration with one of its product suppliers, has made available aeroboxes which are used to minimize exposure between a healthcare provider and a COVID-19 patient. The equipment will be distributed to hospitals across […]
Tonight we can confirm COVID-19 patient number twenty-three. According to the Officer of Director of Health Services, this latest case is one of the repatriates from Friday’s flight. A post on the Office of Director of Health Services’ Facebook account says, given that we had an arrival with forty plus persons this past Friday, samples […]
Earlier in the newscast we told you about COVID patient number twenty-three, but across the northern border, Chetumal, has surpassed Cancun with the number of positive COVID-19 cases. On Friday, Chetumal registered thirty-one new cases of COVID-19 cases in twenty four hours, so that there are three hundred and ninety seven active cases of COVID-19 […]
The National Fire Service is getting ready to pilot its emergency medical technician services in the west. As a part of its preparation, the Fire Service received two ambulances; a Ford E350 Ambulance and International 4300 Ambulance. The emergency response vehicles were transported by the U.S. Government on a C17 military aircraft from Charleston Air […]
Two weeks ago, we reported the increased anxiety levels recorded by mental health and medical professionals in Belize. This week, our senior students have all reason to be anxious as they returned to classes to prepare to take the CSEC exams in July. It’s a high-stress situation in an average school year, but 2020 has […]
On Tuesday, the twenty-second case of COVID-19 was detected in Belize. While this is a new case, patient nineteen has recovered. Now, patient twenty-two is a Guatemalan border jumper, who along with two other Guatemalan men and a Belizean was detained over the weekend at a checkpoint in Unitedville Village, Cayo. The four men reportedly […]
The Guatemalans, however, did not remain in the quarantine facility because on Sunday they were whisked away to the western border. Reports surfaced that the Belizean, who was caught with the Guatemalans, contacted a well-known and established Chinese businessman in Belmopan to pull strings for the men to be released. But according to Doctor Manzanero, […]
A few minutes ago the Government issued a press release on the matter of the three Guatemalans who entered Belize illegal. It confirms that the men were arrested at a checkpoint in Unitedville Village after they were entered the country illegally. The men were taken to the San Ignacio Community Hospital to be swabbed for […]
Taiwan is stepping up big time for Belize with another COVID-19 medical equipment donation. In its latest gift, Taiwan donated a million Belize dollars in equipment and materials for hospitals and labs across the country. The donation includes protective gears; nasal swabs; and thermometers. Here’s the story. Andrea Polanco, Reporting On Tuesday, Taiwan’s Ambassador […]
Director of Health Services, Dr. Marvin Manzanero, appeared on today’s episode of Ask the Expert where he responded to a number of questions put forward by members of the public. Prior to the Q&A session, Dr. Manzanero touched on continued testing for COVID-19, acknowledging that last Friday saw the most tests being conducted in a […]
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 […]
Back to COVID-19; Belize has been able to abate a so-called first wave of the corona virus by implementing strict measures under a state of emergency. Those regulations are only just being relaxed as we near the end of the existing S.O.E. While there are no known plans to extend or renew the state of […]
Across Belize, various hotels have been designated as facilities for persons facing a mandatory fourteen-day quarantine upon re-entering the country. The western border at Benque Viejo has seen considerable traffic, leaving Cayo District with the highest number of persons in isolation because of the coronavirus disease. Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services “I […]
The Ministry of Health is also preparing a proposal regarding the continued use of face masks after the State of Emergency expires at the end of the month. The proposal will be presented to the National Oversight Committee and will also contain guidelines for the continued practice of social distancing. After the proposal is made […]
Belize and Uruguay are the two countries in this side of the world that are battling the novel coronavirus with success. On the other hand, Brazil has been experiencing an explosion in cases and is recording the second highest number of COVID-19 deaths globally. Now, for more than fifty days, the number of coronavirus cases […]
The quarantine process of persons entering Belize is working to contain the spread of the virus, but there is growing concern over the effectiveness of rapid tests, especially as it relates to the future reopening of borders and the P.G.I.A. to international visitors. News Five has been able to confirm that both patients nineteen and […]
Fifteen persons were on the manifest of the United Airlines flight that landed at the Philip Goldson International Airport on June twelfth. Among them were twelve repatriated Belizeans; the other three included a diplomat and two American nationals, who are relatives of Robert Hurley, the sixty-year-old man who was killed on his farm in San […]
