BELMOPAN, Fri, Aug. 20, 2021– Services at the San Ignacio Community Hospital have been temporarily suspended and surgeries are being carried out only on a per-need basis following the discovery of a cluster of COVID-19 cases among members of the hospital’s staff.
Personnel across various departments in the community hospital — including laboratory technicians, pharmacists, x-ray specialists, nurses, and even persons who work within the HIV treatment unit — have contracted the virus. It is being reported that at least 19 medical personnel at the medical institution have tested positive so far.
The number of persons who might have been exposed to the virus through contact with one of these infected medical workers is huge. Several of those infected workers participated in the hospital’s vaccination program as support personnel, engaging in outpatient services and interacting with the community. In addition, four of those persons, whose names have not been disclosed, have spent time at Guerra’s Polyclinic in Benque Viejo. Both that clinic and the San Ignacio Hospital are thus undergoing thorough sanitization.
A release from the Government of Belize Press Office states that, despite the discovery of Covid-19 cases at the hospital, “The Ministry of Health and Wellness assures the general population that key services will continue to be offered to the public and will be modified according to the existing surge plan for COVID-19.”
The units of the hospital which will continue to be in full operation include the Accident and Emergency Unit, which operates 24/7; the outpatient clinic, which will provide services from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., seven days a week; the Maternal and Child Health Department, which will offer services from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Monday through to Friday; and the labour and delivery section of the hospital that continues to be in operation 24/7.
Laboratory testing, X-ray exams, and pharmacy services, as well as other key functions of the hospital, will be carried out on an as-needed basis. The Health Ministry encourages all persons accessing services to remain vigilant and practice all safety measures known to be effective in preventing transmission of the virus, like hand-washing and wearing masks.