HATTIEVILLE, Belize District, Thurs. Aug. 13, 2020– Commencing today, visits to inmates at the Belize Central Prison are prohibited.

Visits to the prison have been suspended indefinitely. The move has been taken to keep the inmates and staff of the prison free from the COVID-19 virus that is now on the rise in the country.

Presently, the prison is COVID-19-free, and prison officials are trying to ensure that this continues to be the case. Officials of the Ministry of Health had conducted random testing for COVID-19 among the prison population, and all the results were negative.

Virgilio Murillo, Chief Executive Officer of the prison, said that starting tomorrow, Friday, no one can come to the prison for personal visits. He did mention, however, that relatives and friends of prisoners can transfer money to officers at the gate, who will deposit the money into the account of the loved one, but those persons who bring funds to the facility will not be allowed to see the inmates.

Murillo told the media that prison programs and work schedules will be carried out as normal.