BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Oct. 7, 2021– Today, the Ministry of Health and Wellness hosted its first live COVID-19 report entitled, “Up 2 the Minute”. The show featured three expert panelists who gave an update on the COVID-19 situation in Belize.
The data from the MOHW is showing that our elders are at a higher risk of dying if they contract the COVID-19 virus. For the period of September 1 to October 6, a little over a month, a total of 65 persons have passed away due to COVID-19 complications.
A total of 25 persons who died are over the age of 65, 10 are in the 55-59 age group, and 8 are between the ages of 40 and 44. In the Belize District, during that same period, 31 persons passed away — the highest number countrywide. In Orange Walk there were 12 fatalities, and there were 8 in Corozal, 7 in Cayo, 3 in Stann Creek, and 2 in Toledo.
To date, according to Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa, a total of 14 persons who are fully vaccinated have died as a result of COVID-19 in Belize.
Data also show four major comorbidities that contribute to fatalities. These are diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure) chronic renal failure, and obesity.
It is noted that obesity is the main non-communicable disease that is associated with COVID-19 deaths.
As the country continues to battle this third wave of the COVID-19 virus, we are seeing increased hospitalization, especially in Belize City, the new epicenter of COVID-19 in Belize.
This week, the KHMH announced its move to modify its oxygen distribution system to accommodate the increasing number of patients in need of oxygen therapy.
Also this week, the MOHW opened two new COVID-19 testing sites where citizens who may need to present a negative test for one reason or the other can access the facilities and get a free rapid test.
As of October 6, a total of 199,932 persons have received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccines, and approximately 144,531 have received two doses. About 26,146 children between the ages of 12 and 17 have gotten at least their first shot.
Today, a total of 1,847 new tests were processed and 294 positive cases were found, a positivity rate of 16.2 %. A total of 53 COVID-19 hospitalizations are logged countrywide and 16 persons are admitted to an ICU. In today’s data the death of one person was logged, a fully vaccinated woman from Belize City.
On Wednesday, October 6, the team from MOHW processed 1,434 tests and found 208 new cases, a 14.8% positivity rate. Of the 52 hospitalizations recorded, 10 persons needed treatment in an ICU. Two deaths, a man and a woman from Orange Walk and the Belize District respectively, were logged on that day.
On October 5, a total of 266 new cases were found among the 1,956 tests processed, a positivity rate of 13.7%. The data recorded 54 hospitalizations, with 13 persons being placed in the ICU. Again two persons passed as a result of the virus, a man and a woman — one from Corozal and the other from the Belize District.
Over the weekend, from October 2 to 4, the Health Ministry processed 3,142 new tests and found 419 cases, a 13.9% positivity rate on that date. Of those numbers, 47 were hospitalized, with 14 persons being placed in an ICU. Four deaths were recorded over those days: three men and 1 woman — two persons from Cayo, 1 from Orange Walk and the other from Belize City.
And on Friday, October 1, a total of 1,895 new tests were processed and 202 new cases were confirmed. At the time 46 persons were hospitalized and on that day 4 deaths were recorded, 2 men and 2 women — 2 from Orange Walk, 1 from the Belize district, and the other from Toledo.
According to WHO, globally, as of 6:57 pm CEST, 7 October 2021, there have been 236,132,082 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 4,822,472 deaths, reported to WHO. As of 6 October 2021, a total of 6,262,445,422 vaccine doses have been administered.