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Following the announcement of the first case of COVID-19, flights and water taxis were suspended to San Pedro which is under a state of emergency. Fear and panic drove many persons to attempt to leave the island. Many residents from neighbouring Caye Caulker are also trying to get to their families on the mainland in […]
Written on March 24, 2020 | Posted in
Health,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Caye Caulker Non-Residents Abandon the Island Due to Fears of COVID-19 Spread
Tourism based economies are taking a blow from the COVID-19 disease which has spread across the world. It is no exception in Belize as thousands of people who depend on the sector are being impacted. In the hotel industry, fifteen thousand people have been caught as hotel cancellations leave rooms without guests. Tourism Minister Manuel […]
Written on March 24, 2020 | Posted in
Health,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Tourism Industry Taking a Blow Due to COVID-19
The first team of medical experts from Cuba will land in Belize on Wednesday and the second batch of doctors will arrive on Thursday via a chartered airplane from Guatemala. More than thirty other countries are also receiving the Cuban health personnel, including Italy. The doctors will be assisting local health official to combat COVID-19 […]
Written on March 24, 2020 | Posted in
Foreign Affairs,
Health,
People & Places,
Regional / International |
Comments Off on Cuban Doctors to Arrive in Belize on Wednesday, Thursday
According to Hernandez, Cuban medical professionals are working on a vaccine to neutralize the COVID-19 virus. According to press reports, preliminary results of the vaccine being developed by Cuba to fight the new coronavirus are optimistic. On the Phone: Orestes Hernandez, Minister Counselor, Embassy of Cuba in Belize “It said during a press conference that […]
Written on March 24, 2020 | Posted in
Foreign Affairs,
Health,
Regional / International |
Comments Off on Cuba Working on COVID-19 Vaccine
As you heard, Social Security will be amending its regulations to provide cover to persons who are left unemployed as a result of the novel coronavirus. Persons, who have been exposed and so certified by a doctor, will be covered under the sickness benefits of the scheme. The S.S.B. is also instituting practices to protect […]
Written on March 24, 2020 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on S.S.B. – Taking Care of Stakeholders and Staff while Managing COVID-19
The Prime Minister sin expected to make official announcements on Wednesday, but another recommendation that S.S.B. Chair Doug Singh revealed during his appearance on Open Your Eyes this morning is that an advance payment will be made to pensioners, due the crisis. According to Singh, there is precedent for this when there have been natural […]
Written on March 24, 2020 | Posted in
Health,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on S.S.B. Proposes Advance Payment to Pensioners
Several large bus operators announced that they were halting services between their base and Belize City. Others have decided to reduce the number of buses operating, so they have adjusted their schedules. The decision was met with concern and praises online. Today, we spoke with Secretary of the Belize Bus Association, Ewart Metzgen, who shed […]
Written on March 24, 2020 | Posted in
People & Places,
Travel |
Comments Off on Many Bus Operators Suspend Operations
During today’s Ask the Expert session, the Director of Health Services Doctor Marvin Manzanero also spoke on the bus situation. One viewer asked the panel if it was safe to travel on buses – he advised that persons should practice their preventative measures but noted that many buses have suspended their service. He says that […]
Written on March 24, 2020 | Posted in
Health |
Comments Off on Bus Run Cancellations Tough for Health Workers
Viewers of the live webcast also wanted to know about the possibility of a lockdown; as well as the use of certain drugs to treat the COVID-19. Here’s the Director of Health Services’ expert advice if you want some information on these questions and others related to the novel coronavirus. Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director […]
Written on March 24, 2020 | Posted in
Health |
Comments Off on More Questions for the M.O.H. Experts
The novel coronavirus has caused the prices for crude oil and fuel to plummet in the international market. Some pump stations in the U.S. have lower prices to as much as ninety U.S. cents per gallon. Here in Belize, consumers can expect a little ease in their pockets. At midnight tonight, the pump price for […]
Written on March 24, 2020 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on Changes at the Fuel Pumps
While the price of diesel dips, government is also calling for cut backs at ministries, including its majority-owned utilities to curtail their expenses during the COVID-19 crisis. Belize Electricity Limited, for its part, has suspended all major undertakings, a saving of approximately five million dollars. With the exception of the installation of the submarine cable […]
Written on March 24, 2020 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on B.E.L. Implements Cost-Cutting Measures Amid Coronavirus Predicament
One man was killed and two others injured in a road traffic accident on the George Price Highway. This morning, Dorian Anthony was on his way to visit his incarcerated son, but he never arrived at his destination. The collision took his life and left his two friends, Gary Trapp and Dan Myers, injured. There […]
Written on March 24, 2020 | Posted in
Auto Accidents |
Comments Off on 1 Dead & 2 Others Injured in Traffic Accident
The coronavirus crisis continues to have far-reaching financial consequences in all sectors of the economy, including the commercial free zone in Corozal. While most of the attention has been focused on the tourism industry, today business at the CFZ has ground to a complete halt and hundreds of workers employed by those businesses have been […]
Written on March 24, 2020 | Posted in
Economy,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Corozal Free Zone Grinds to a Halt
There is some good news from the private sector and that is that commercial banks are offering packages to customers who are facing hard times ahead. The banks are extending financial assistance programmes to customers. The Belize Bank package includes a moratorium on loan instalments, reduced loan payments, free waiver or loan payments and other […]
Written on March 24, 2020 | Posted in
Economy,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Commercial Banks Offer Packages to Costumers
Due to the threat of COVID-19, the Immigration Department is suspending certain services beginning today. Applications for passports will be accepted only for emergency travel; otherwise all is on hold. Applications for nationality, permanent residences and visas are also suspended. In respect of visas, however, where these are required to obtain extensions in order for […]
Written on March 24, 2020 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Immigration Department Suspends Certain Services
Like many businesses, restaurants are also feeling the effects of COVID-19 and will have to change their way of doing business. In the next twenty-four hours, restaurants will close their doors for in-house dining. Now that a first case of the virus has been established, take-out or delivery services will be offered to customers. We […]
Written on March 24, 2020 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Restaurant Businesses Take Serious Hit Amid COVID-19 Crisis
Quality Chicken is one of the main suppliers of chicken to the tourism industry and the population. Now, that the industry is at a standstill and people are losing their jobs, the company says it is stepping up to assist its faithful customers. Their store on North Front Street and branches all over the country, […]
Written on March 24, 2020 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Chicken Prices at Quality More Affordable to Families
Online shopping to stock up for food items is a most convenient way at a time when the country is under threat of COVID-19 and social distancing is a priority. Today, News Five’s Duane Moody headed out to J and W Shopping Mart, which introduced its online services in December 2018. The company is experiencing […]
Written on March 24, 2020 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on In times of Pandemic, Online Shopping is the Way to Go
The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed today. The woman is currently under quarantine in San Pedro, while her family members are in isolation. The individual, who is a Belizean, arrived at the Philip Goldson International Airport from Los Angeles on Thursday, travelling via Texas. On Friday, she was checked at a private clinic as […]
Written on March 23, 2020 | Posted in
Featured,
Health |
Comments Off on Belize Records First Case of COVID-19 in San Pedro
A thorough investigation, which includes retracing the journey of the San Pedrano affected by COVID-19, is being undertaken by the Ministry of Health. Her travels included a layover in Texas, but local officials are looking at all the persons she may have been in physical contact with on her way to Belize. While the prime […]
Written on March 23, 2020 | Posted in
Featured,
Health |
Comments Off on DHS Manzanero Outlines Contact Mapping for First COVID-19 Case
Cuban doctors are being deployed to various countries where COVID-19 has been established. A group is already in Italy where the death count continues to increase. A Cuban Medical Brigade arrives in Belize later this week via private charter from Guatemala City. The team of doctors will be deployed to San Pedro in the first […]
Written on March 23, 2020 | Posted in
Featured,
Health |
Comments Off on Cuban Medical Brigade This Way Cometh
Several health facilities in Belize City have been identified by the Ministry of Health should there be a need for persons suffering from COVID-19 to be hospitalized. Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, the country’s largest infirmary, will not be accepting victims unless it is an extreme case that requires ventilation. Prime Minister Barrow has listed Cleopatra […]
Written on March 23, 2020 | Posted in
Featured,
Health |
Comments Off on Cleopatra White and Matron Roberts Polyclinics are Listed for COVID Hospitalization
Earlier today, Governor General Sir Colville Young signed a statutory instrument bringing into effect a state of emergency for Ambergris Caye. Under the regulations for the state of emergency everyone is expected to practice social distancing. Travel to and from the island has also been prohibited for the next seventy-two hours. Gatherings have also been […]
Written on March 23, 2020 | Posted in
Featured,
Health |
Comments Off on San Pedro is Under 72 Hours State of Emergency
When official word came of the first positive case in San Pedro, residents scrambled to get off the island. Hundreds work in the tourism industry, but are not permanent residents of the town. A state of emergency was imposed along with measures of containment, restricting travel to and from the island. Here is News Five’s […]
Written on March 23, 2020 | Posted in
Featured,
Health |
Comments Off on Belize’s Top Tourist Destination Confirms First Case of Deadly COVID-19
While measures are being tightened in San Pedro through a state of emergency, restricting travel, the Department of Transport is putting in place preventative measures that will help in containing the deadly COVID-19 disease. The Philip Goldson International Airport closed today with the last commercial flight, a United Airlines airplane, taking off. While that was […]
Written on March 23, 2020 | Posted in
Featured,
Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on COVID-19, Public Transportation and What You Should Do!
