BELIZE CITY, Tues. Jan. 19, 2021– In our last issue, we reported on the United Democratic Party’s call for the Ministry of Health and Wellness to revisit the quarantine measures that are currently in place with a view to updating them so that they reflect the present “situation on the ground”. We have seen steadily decreasing numbers of infections and deaths since these more stringent measures were put in place on Sunday, December 20, 2020 by means of SI 175. These laws will remain in place until the end of this month, it seems. The Minister of Health and Wellness has told local media that they intend to present a new set of rules by February 1.

The most severe measures in SI 175 of 2020 were applied exclusively to the northern districts (Corozal and Orange Walk), where a virtual lockdown was put in place. Numbers of coronavirus cases and deaths in those districts, where COVID-19 wreaked havoc during the first wave of the virus in 2020, have been steadily decreasing. SI 175 of 2020 had placed restrictions on travel to and from these districts, as well as on certain inter-district travel, and at the present time only movement that is needed for provision of essential services is allowed in those areas.

To date, the entire country remains on a practically indefinite curfew, since Minister Chebat did not confirm that there would be a lifting of this restriction in the new rules that are expected to be rolled out by the month’s end. He did say, however, that they are, “looking at all these things,” and he stated their “intention to have a new set of rules for the first of February.”

So maybe the curfew will be lifted. Or maybe not. The Ministry of Health and Wellness has confirmed, however, that it has seen improving numbers that show that the restriction on movement has reduced the spread of this deadly virus. This may influence any decisions they make. While the Ministry is noting the reductions in the spread of the virus, it says it has set a threshold to determine whether or not they have gotten infections under control.

“To ensure that we have the pandemic under control or that we have a permanent decline in numbers, the positivity rate has to be at least five percent or lower over a period of two weeks consistently,” Minister Chebat said in an interview with News5.

This may mean that if this benchmark is not met prior to February 1, some of the stricter movement restrictions found in SI 175 of 2020 will likely remain in place.