BELIZE CITY, Mon. Jan. 25, 2021– There has been some optimism as a result of the positive results that have so far been produced by the COVID-19 prevention protocols that the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) put in place. However, as the Ministry of Health and Wellness prepares to hold a press conference on Friday, January 29, at which it will announce updated quarantine measures that will be implemented across the country, the Ministry remains cautious about the possible effects of changes to the existing protocol.

In an interview this past week with local media, Minister Michel Chebat shared that the new COVID-19 strain now circulating in Mexico and the United States is of concern to the MOHW. We recently reported that the Ministry had sent samples to Baylor College in Texas (with whom the government of Belize is partnering) to carry out genotype testing in an effort to detect any trace of the new strain. Samples were also recently sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency for possible detection of the mutated virus as well.

During his interview, Hon. Chebat said, “That strain is of concern to us, and we are looking at it really closely, because we are concerned about a third wave in Belize.”

Over recent weeks, the declining cases in the country have flattened the epidemiological curve that was on a steady rise since August of 2020. It is believed that the protocols that are currently in place, which many expect will be relaxed by February 1st, have played a major role in this decline in the number of cases and casualties over the last few weeks.