I wasn’t going to publish further blog posts until I had done some updates in the aesthetic looks overall. However, it’s been three weeks now since I’ve spent most of my time at home due to the global crisis of the coronavirus (aka COVID-19). I’ve got to admit that at first, I thought it would never get to Belize, but the results so far have shown otherwise. Thus, the reason why I’ll be using my blog to provide updates about the situation here at home.

The following is a brief summary of the infections which have occurred so far.

• March 23rd first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Belize. The patient was a 38-year-old female who resides in San Pedro and had recently traveled to the US. San Pedro is placed on lockdown. A few lucky individuals were able to get out before this happened.
• March 25th the second confirmed case is declared in San Pedro again, a daughter to mother transmission of the first case. The 38-Year-old failed to isolate herself properly.
• March 29th a 38-year-old Belizean male with travel history to New York was confirmed as the third case.
• April 3rd a male individual who was well known in San Ignacio is declared as the fourth patient. In the prior two weeks, he had been traveling back and forth between San Ignacio and Belize City.
• April 4th the fourth patient Mr. Hubert Pipersburgh of age 55 becomes the first death in the country. The information posted on social media channels by his family and friends shows the lack of readiness by Belizean officials leading during this time of crisis.
• April 5th a Belizean student who returned from Florida is declared the fifth patient who had arrived in Belize on April 3rd.
• April 6th two new cases emerge. Patient 6 had encounters with patient 4, while patient 7 may have been infected during visits to the hospital.
• April 7th, a female minor and immediate contact of a previously identified patient of San Ignacio become the 8th case.
• April 8th a 50-year-old male from the Corozal district who works in the private sector is diagnosed as the 9th case.
• April 9th a patient who had been in intensive care since March 31st in a private hospital becomes the 10 patient. He quickly succumbs to the illness on April 10th becoming the second death due to the virus.
• April 11th the mapping exercises of previous patients identify three more cases of COVID-19. Two new cases are from Corozal while one was from the Belize District.

All of this has led to a countrywide quarantine. No one without a valid reason will be allowed to travel outside of their districts. The following below summarizes what will be in effect. Please note this was put together using the same summary of Statutory Instrument #52 of 2020 and applying it to the entire nation of Belize. We might be seeing some changes but I guess we will just have to wait and see.

What we put in place at the time of the Cayo quarantine will now apply countrywide.

The entire nation of Belize will be on lockdown for 14 days in the first instance. The curfew remains in effect from 8:00 p.m. to 4:59 a.m. and for children from 6:00 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.

Movements that are allowed in the nation of Belize including operations of businesses.

People are permitted to move between the hours indicated and for the sole purposes of:

1. Food and medicine (essential needs)                                                        a. Convenience stores, food stores, supermarkets, meat
   shops, butchers, (excluding potable water) and food can
   operate from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (movement is for
   purchase of food and essentials)
   – b. Markets: 6:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
   – c. Pharmacies: 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
   – d. Bakeries and tortilla factories: 5:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
2. Fuel (fuel stations, depots, including LPG suppliers, depots and distributors) 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
3. Financial institutions (banks, credit unions, ATMs) 8:00 a.m. – 12 noon
4. Exercise (jogging, walking or running, only, during hours of 5:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.) (no cycling)
5. Veterinary and medical emergencies 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
6. If you are a caregiver or an essential worker going to and from work
7. Services by waste disposal and sanitation companies and auxiliary personnel
8. Maintenance and housekeeping by hotel, villa or other accommodation service personnel

******Operations which cannot operate for a period of 14 days:

1. Distributors and factories of carbonated and other beverages including spirits (excluding potable water)
2. Mechanic shops, garages and other auto parts stores are closed to the public, but available for essential services upon request
3. Construction and construction sites
4. Hardware stores
5. Storefront outlets for essential businesses (public utility companies)
6. Service of delivery, take out or drive-thru facilities at restaurants, diners, saloons and other similar establishments

Domestic Food Security

1. Farms continue to operate – agricultural and aquaculture operations between 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
2. Fishers can continue to fish for livelihood during 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. This includes commercial licensed fishers Recreational or sports fishing is not permitted.
3. Agro-processors, food manufacturers only, can operate for a period of 14 days during 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (but carbonated and other beverage manufacturers cannot operate for a period of 14 days).
4. Productive sector industries, personnel and auxiliary workers (potable water production, agricultural workers) during 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Transportation

1. No public bus transportation throughout the country of Belize.
2. Taxis are allowed if they are called. No taxi should be waiting at a taxi stand for passengers.

Restriction on movement

1. No one permitted to move as a nonessential worker
2. The food and essential goods supply chain will, however, remain open for cargo and delivery of food and medicines will be allowed to be transported for those purposes only (international and domestic delivery services and wholesalers of goods and services).

Sundays in Belize:

1. The complete shutdown of businesses (except private security companies).
2. Movement by essential workers only
3. Movement for emergencies only
4. Entities that are designated as 24-hour and seven days a week are allowed to operate. These include food mills, oil production, sugar, citrus and approved food factories, port operations, public utilities.

ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND SERVICES UNDER THE LAW

1. Security forces
2. Medical personnel and auxiliary services (includes ambulance services)
3. Immigration and Customs
4. Private security services
5. Public utilities, workers and auxiliary staff
6. Social workers authorized to respond to emergencies
7. Sanitation workers and auxiliary staff
8. Productive sector industries, personnel and auxiliary workers (potable water production, agricultural workers)
9. Media (workers supporting television, radio, newspapers and online media services)
10. Belize Port Authority
11. Office of the Governor-General
12. National Fire Service
13. Belize Electricity Limited
14. Belize Water Services Limited
15. Belize Telemedia Limited
16. Speednet Communication Limited (Smart)