By Khaila Gentle
BELIZE CITY, Tues. May 24, 2022
Belize, now in the throes of its fifth wave of COVID-19, is among five nations that were added to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) “high”-risk category this week. The change in the country’s CDC risk status coincides with a recent upturn in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country, which continues to rise, and occurred just a few days after the Ministry of Health & Wellness issued a press release confirming Omicron Variant BA.2 as the predominant strain of the virus that is currently circulating in Belize.
Previously listed under Level 2 or the “moderate” risk category, Belize, Barbados, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, and the Kingdom of Eswatini were all moved to Level 3 this past Monday, while Montserrat was moved up two risk levels from the Level 1 (“low”) category.
According to the CDC, the “Level 3: Covid-19 High” category is assigned to those countries that have had more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days. On Tuesday, May 24, the Ministry’s COVID-19 Daily Report indicated a total of 132 new confirmed cases, which brought the current number of active COVID-19 cases to 958. Before that, data for May 21-23 showed a total of 198 new confirmed cases.
“As is evident from the increase in the positivity rate over the last few days, Belize is currently experiencing another wave of COVID-19 and must work together as a community to help control the spike and contain the spread,” said a recent press release from the Ministry.
The CDC has advised against travel to Belize and other “high”-risk countries for all unvaccinated persons. It has also stated that even those who are up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines might be at risk of contracting and spreading the virus.
Notably, Belize’s Director of Public Health and Wellness, Dr. Melissa Diaz Musa, and Minister of Health and Wellness, Hon. Kevin Bernard addressed the 75th World Health Assembly this week. There, Dr. Diaz Musa spoke on Belize’s experience with the virus over the past few years as well as where the country currently stands in its battle to contain the virus.
“Belize recorded its first case of COVID-19 in March 2020. And to date, we have seen four large waves of this relentless virus. We are now entering our fifth wave,” she stated.
Meanwhile, Hon. Bernard spoke on how maintaining COVID-19 testing readiness remains a challenge for Belize and other developing nations. He also addressed the inequitable distribution of testing supplies and COVID-19 treatment, noting how high-income countries have bought almost all existing supplies.
Currently, the CDC, which does not include the United States in its travel advisories, has over 100 countries listed under Level 3, including Belize, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. This past Monday also saw Kuwait, Jamaica, and Mongolia moved up from Level 1 to Level 2.