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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
Police were quick to detain the two suspects, but one escaped. But did the good deed by Alex Sanker cast a shadow of fear on his life? The artist told News Five today that after hitting the robbers, they threatened to return. Sanker says that he has been living there for years and is not […]
A police officer, Reginald Diego from the Corozal District, has been arrested and charged for the crime of extortion, following an incident over the weekend in which he allegedly coerced a U.S. national into paying him three hundred dollars to avoid a fabricated charge of five thousand dollars for driving up to a checkpoint without […]
The best little zoo in world is located at mile twenty-nine on the George Price Highway. It is home to two hundred animals of forty-five species of Belizean wildlife. Over the years, we have brought you hundreds of stories about the work they do and the animals they care for at the Belize Zoo and […]
For the past week and half we have been reporting on the Guinea Grass villagers’ appeal for assistance with the Village Council going so far as to write to the Prime Minister to lift the lockdown because families are in need of food. Well, one person who heard the cries in Guinea Grass is Commissioner […]
DHS Marvin Manzanero says that the Ministry’s contact tracing and swabbing exercise continues to capture patients connected to San Pedro. Manzanero notes that although some test results may not include San Pedro or if the numbers appear low for the island on the infographic, several of those who left the island just before the lockdown […]
As you know by now, Ambergris Caye is at the top of the list with the number of COVID cases and residents on San Pedro have been experiencing hard times since the lockdown. Today, we checked in on San Pedro where residents for the most part remain inside their houses and a number of businesses […]
There is another initiative, a fundraising drive, which has been started by attorney Audrey Matura to assist those whose lives have been devastated by a second lockdown. Residents, many who have been left destitute, are in need of food items to survive as they have lost their source of income and have not received assistance […]
Pre-primary and primary schools are to reopen on September seventh, but for distance learning only, meanwhile high school classes resume in October. But given the dire economic times, families are finding it hard to cover school expenses for virtual classes. Well, Miss Universe Belize Destinee Arnold announced this morning that eighteen students from across Belize […]
There’s a new tourism organization in town and its scope covers everyone in the industry, including hair braiders and small tour operators. Its advent, however, comes at a time when the industry has been flatlined by COVID-19. So what is the Belize Local Association of Stakeholders in Tourism born out of and what is its […]
BLAST is entering a local landscape that is, for all intents and purposes, the domain of FECTAB. The Federation of Cruise Tourism Associations of Belize has been experiencing some turbulence within its ranks recently. Recognizing the vacuum left in the wake of its splintering, BLAST has stepped up to fill the void independently. Randy […]
The family of forty-seven-year-old Sergio Nal Junior is asking for the public’s help tonight. Nal was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis and is in urgent need of a surgery. Today, his daughter Janeen is appealing for your help to save her dad’s life. Janeen Nal, Appealing for Help “My dad is suffering from a chronic […]
COVID-19’s effects on people differ in many ways. There are the physical, emotional and mental impacts that the global pandemic is having as it is ravages economies worldwide. And as the situation continues downhill, health experts say there is need to discuss and treat the effects that the spike of cases and ten COVID-19 related […]
According to Quintanilla, there are several coping mechanisms that can be practiced to cope with the mental effects of COVID-19. Quintanilla says that people are naturally concerned for their own health and that of their loved ones. She says there are several activities that people can practice to ease their burden and look after their […]
The loss of a loved one is painful and the grieving process takes time, but dying to the novel coronavirus makes the grieving process even more difficult due to the restrictions imposed on family members. There is no funeral, church service or contact with the body of the deceased. The victim is buried as quickly […]
The trauma related to COVID-19 patients and victims does not only affect families, but it extends to frontline workers such as nurses and doctors. So who is there when these healthcare workers need some sort of counselling? Mental Health Coordinator Iveth Quintanilla says that the nurses are trained to deal with it and if that […]
Mental health officials are encouraging people to seek help if COVID-19 is consuming their well being. Clinics in every district are open with mental health experts there to provide counseling to distressed persons. Psychiatric nurse practitioners are trained and willing to help anyone who has been experiencing the mental effects of the virus. But to […]
