BELIZE CITY, Wed. May 19, 2021– The Minister of Education, Hon. Francis Fonseca, spoke to members of the media on Wednesday via a virtual conference to give an update on the current COVID-19 outbreaks in two of Belize City’s primary schools.
“The update I have, really, is that in terms of Queen’s Square, one teacher tested positive. All of the other teachers at the school have been tested, as well as the students who came into contact with that particular teacher. Everyone has tested negative; that teacher is in isolation, but as I understand it, what has been done is the rapid test, so the rapid test has come back positive. The PCR test has been taken, but the results are still pending. I think they expect to get that PCR test sometime today,” explained Fonseca.
Fonseca went on to say, “I think it’s important for the public to understand that that teacher, just as is the case with Wesley Primary School, the contact tracing established that that was linked to the Princess Casino outbreak. The teacher has a relative who works there. In the case of Wesley Primary School, the lower division, there were four students who tested positive, I think, ranging in ages from age 12, 10, 8 and 7. As I understand it, the 7-year-old student is the only one who has exhibited some mild symptoms. The others are asymptomatic. Again there, the students have all been isolated. Again, all of their classmates have been tested, all of the teachers at Wesley Lower Primary School have been tested, everyone else has tested negative, but again, it was the rapid test that has been done. The PCR test, they are still awaiting the results of the PCR test.”
The Minister also referenced a press release that was published by the Ministry wherein they assured the public that they are working with the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) to monitor the situation. Fonseca states that while the outbreaks are alarming, the Ministries aren’t too worried about keeping the outbreaks contained, despite having given the green light to 352 schools to resume in-person classes. Instead, he opted to “assure the public and assure our parents and our students in particular that [the ministry is ] confident that schools remain safe as long as the protocols are adhered to.”
In addition to these protocols, the Minister is also calling on parents and the general population to do their part. Therefore, parents who have contracted COVID-19 or are showing signs of being sick are asked not to send their children to school until they receive a negative test or are free of their symptoms.