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The COVID-19 situation remains fluid and the National Oversight Committee has had to remain on the ball on an hourly basis. That’s according to AG Peyrefitte who sits on the N.O.C. He says that monitoring the increase takes place on the hour. Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney General “We analyze them on a daily basis and […]
Written on August 26, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Monitoring Increase in COVID-19 Cases
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 […]
Written on August 26, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on P.U.P. Launches its Plan Belize Health Policy
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 […]
Written on August 26, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on P.U.P.’s Plan to Tackle COVID-19
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, […]
Written on August 26, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on John Briceño: “Coronavirus Response Will Take Effect from Day One”
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 […]
Written on August 26, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Low Cost Medication and New Hospitals for Several Municipalities
There is grim economic news tonight; the economy contracted by twenty-three point three percent in the second quarter. That is the highest contraction we’ve seen in the past two decades. In fact, it is the largest quarterly decline to date. The decline reflects the effects of COVID-19 on economies across the region through external and […]
Written on August 26, 2020 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on Economy Contracted by 23.3% between April and June 2020
The primary sector contracted by twenty point two percent during the second quarter of the year, from eighty point six million to seventy point eight million dollars. Sugarcane production declined considerably by fourteen percent and this is due to the 2019 drought which affected harvesting. Livestock production fell by thirty-six point nine percent. Jacqueline […]
Written on August 26, 2020 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on Production Across All Sectors Recorded Major Decreases
In the secondary sector, a decline of nineteen point five percent over the three-month period was recorded. Within this sector, the ‘Manufacturing and Mining’ industry saw output fall by twenty-two point five percent. Beverage production suffered immensely from the lack of tourist visitors to the country, as well as the closure of restaurants and bars […]
Written on August 26, 2020 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on Secondary Industries Decreases by 19.5%
The most recent figures from the Statistical Institute of Belize’s monthly Consumer Price Index show that on average Belizean households saw the overall cost of regularly purchased goods and services rise by zero point one percent, when compared to the same month last year. Statistician Daysi Montero says this was the result of higher home rental […]
Written on August 26, 2020 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on Food Home Rental Costs Up, Fuel and LPG Prices Down
According to the Acting Director General Diana Castillo-Trejo, the price collection basket used to determine the Consumer Price Index is an old model. The updated model was not used and it begs the question: are the C.P.I. figures a true representation of what consumers pay on the ground? Diana Castillo-Trejo, Acting Director General, S.I.B. “We […]
Written on August 26, 2020 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on Are C.P.I. Figures a True Reflection of On the Ground Situations?
External trade decreased significantly due to COVID-19 for July 2020. In July, the country imported goods valuing one hundred and nineteen million dollars, a decrease of thirty-seven point eight percent. According to Statistician Tiffany Vasquez, this represents the third consecutive month that imports declined by more than one-third, signalling the far-reaching impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as […]
Written on August 26, 2020 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on Exports, Imports Down
One year in prison for bribing an officer to give you a break for not wearing your mask is also the same jail time officers will receive should they coerce you into paying them if you’re found without the face covering. That part of the latest Statutory Instrument comes on the heels of an incident […]
Written on August 26, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on One Year for Bribery or Extortion Over Face Masks
While we had the AG, we asked if the two-week curfew period is sufficient for the mounting COVID-19 infections to be brought under control given the ever increasing report of new cases. While the National Oversight Committee awaits reports from the Director of Health Services, the Barrow administration is prepared to return to parliament for […]
Written on August 26, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Countrywide Lockdown Still on the Table if Necessary
So, as you heard just now, the Attorney General announced the lifting of the lockdown of three communities in the north – one of them being Guinea Grass. As we have reported, the villagers were up in arms about the extension of the lockdown and protested against it because they said they needed to work […]
Written on August 26, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Guinea Grass Chairman Welcomes Lifting of the Lockdown!
“Overcoming Adversity, Creating Opportunity. Belizeans: Unite for Prosperity” – that’s the theme for this year’s September celebrations. The theme was chosen from among a record breaking three hundred and twelve submissions. According to Chair of the Theme Sub-Committee of the National Celebrations Commission, one hundred and thirty-one persons participated in the competition. The announcement of […]
Written on August 26, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on September Celebrations Theme 2020 is Chosen
The winning theme was submitted by a thirteen-year-old second form student from Sacred Heart College in San Ignacio. Precious Martinez is the youngest to win the competition. Today, she shared what inspired the winning theme. Precious Martinez, Submitted Winning Theme “I got the idea that overcoming adversities would probably mean thinking about Belize during […]
Written on August 26, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Precious Martinez Submitted the Winning Theme!
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 […]
Written on August 25, 2020 | Posted in
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Health |
Comments Off on Teresita “Tely” Cruz Dies Days after Exhibiting COVID-19 Symptoms
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: […]
Written on August 25, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Tely Cruz Experienced Extreme Fatigue Leading Up to her Death – was it COVID-19?
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 […]
Written on August 25, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on 17 New COVID-19 Cases
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 […]
Written on August 25, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Increase in COVID-19 Cases in 3 Northern Communities
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 […]
Written on August 25, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Suspect Cases at Dorothy Menzies Childcare Centre Test Negative
The poultry industry has not been left untouched by the coronavirus. A few weeks ago, there was a shortage of chicken and this week, one of the biggest producers, Caribbean Chicken, closed its processing plant when an employee was infected and died due to the virus. Contact tracing of employees and sanitization are taking place. […]
Written on August 25, 2020 | Posted in
Agriculture,
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Comments Off on Overwhelming Poultry Demand to be Satisfied by Weekend
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 […]
Written on August 25, 2020 | Posted in
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Comments Off on DHS Speaks on COVID-19 at Caribbean Chicken Processing Plant
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 […]
Written on August 25, 2020 | Posted in
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Health |
Comments Off on San Felipe Residents Fearful; Asking for COVID-19 Tests!
There was a brazen broad daylight robbery and beat down of a tamales vendor in Belize City this morning and it all went viral on social media, posted by the very familiar face of painter Alex Sanker. Now, as the Corozal vendor went about his usual route across the city, two thieves targeted him. After […]
Written on August 25, 2020 | Posted in
Crime,
Featured |
Comments Off on Artist4Life Comes to Aid of Vendor Who is Attacked and Robbed
