BELIZE CITY, Mon. Oct. 26, 2020– COVID-19 infections continue to increase across Belize. Recent data released from the Office of the Director of Health Services (DHS) reports 3,145 confirmed COVID-19 cases countrywide since the start of the pandemic.
Currently, 1,134 of those cases still remain active —36.1 % of total cases.
The number of recoveries is also increasing; to date, 1,961 persons have recovered from the virus. However, the number of fatalities is also rising. Belize recorded the 50th COVID-19-related death on Sunday evening.
On Sunday, October 25, 250 samples were processed and 39 new cases were found, a positivity rate of 15.6%. Forty recoveries were also recorded on that day.
Twelve of the new cases were found in Corozal; 13 in the Belize District; 11 in the Stann Creek District; and 3 in the Toledo District.
Six patients were still being treated at the COVID-19 Unit at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH)on Sunday evening, and one of those persons is intubated.
The DHS said that on the previous day, October 24, 2 male persons were hospitalized at the Northern Regional Hospital, and 3 at the Western Regional. These persons are highly suspect COVID-19 cases.
A woman was referred from the Western Regional to the KHMH’s COVID-19 unit and was intubated following a C-section.
Also on October 24, the DHS reported 49 recoveries, but found 56 new cases from a batch of 343 samples. Twenty new cases were found in Corozal and 26 in Orange Walk. The Belize District had 7 cases, and 3 were found in Cayo.
Fifty-five new cases were found on October 23 from 349 samples. It was reported on that day that there had been 46 recoveries. There were 13 new cases in Corozal, 27 in the Belize District, 9 in Cayo, 5 in Stann Creek, and 1 in Toledo. Of note, 10 new cases were found at the Belize Central Prison during that day of testing.
Over 70 cases recovered on October 22. Also on that day, 437 samples were processed and 58 new cases were found — a positivity rate of 13.7%. Of those new cases, 19 were found in Orange Walk, 11 in Corozal, 13 in Stann Creek, 10 in Cayo, and 5 in the Belize District.
The Office of the DHS has reported that social gatherings of more than 10 persons are still being reported.
“We note the continued report coming to us in reference to social gathering in groups of more than 10; these are being reported across the country and certainly doesn’t help us in the prevention measures that we need to keep if we are to have a decrease in cases,” he said.