Friday, March 29, 2024

No more active cases in Belize; nation ranks high on the global scale in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic

Share

Belize is one of the top countries in its region and around the world for having contained COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and managing to ensure no further active cases for over three weeks. This success has allowed economies to slowly begin to open, particularly in Belize and other Caribbeans nations, where the tourism industry has been crushed by the pandemic.

In an article online via Americas News Network, Belize, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados were three Caribbean countries ranking in the top 10 list of nations prepared to lift physical distancing measures amid the pandemic. Although Belize has not taken this step, this conclusion was based on the first ever response tracker tool created by the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government on preparedness.

According to this system, the tracker records and compares governmental measures in response to the COVID-19 situation worldwide. The system ranks countries using four main measures: their control of virus transmission, testing, tracing and isolation, management of risk of exporting and importing cases and community engagement. Belize, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados were considered among the top countries in tackling this new novel virus.

According to the article, out of these three, only Barbados registered a new case on April 3rd, after days of reporting zero new cases. The country has a total of 82 cases, 47 recovered and only seven deaths. Trinidad and Tobago has not reported any new cases in a long time, and continues with only 116 confirmed cases with eight deaths. Belize has not seen any new cases for over 20 days now, remaining steady at only 18 confirmed cases. As of 4:46PM on May 5, 2020, there have been 16 recoveries and two deaths.

Taking a look at the Caribbean region, here is an update at the COVID-19 situation among these island nations.

Anguilla – Anguilla has now seen all three cases from the virus on the island fully recovered. After days of no new infections, the government made the decision to reopen within the country on April 29th
Caribbean Netherlands – Six active cases, no deaths and no new cases.
St. Barths – Six cases, all have recovered.
British Virgin Islands – Six cases with one death, three recovered and two still active cases.
Suriname – Ten cases with one death, nine recovered.
Montserrat – 11 active cases, two deaths, seven active cases, including three critical cases.
Turks & Caicos – 12 cases, one death with five recovered and six active cases.
Saint Kitts & Nevis – 15 cases, no deaths, eight recovered and seven active cases.
Vincent and the Grenadines – 16 cases, no deaths, eight recovered and eight active cases.
Dominica – 16 cases, no deaths, 13 recovered and three are still active cases.
Curacao – 16 cases, one death, 13 recovered and two are still active cases.

Belize – 18 cases, 2 deaths, 16 recoveries. With no new cases in days, on May 1st, the government announced relaxed restrictions on movement for essential activities, allowing several businesses to reopen, including hotels, wholesalers and retailers, call centers and even lawyers, accountants and real estate brokers. In the case of restaurants, these establishments will be limited to providing room service in hotels and take-out meals. Also, all government departments and all statutory bodies reopened on Monday, May 4th.

Grenada – 21 cases, no deaths, 13 recovered while seven remain active, including four who are listed as critical.
Antigua & Barbuda – 25 cases, three deaths, 15 recovered, seven cases remain active, including one listed as critical.
Saint Martin – 38 cases, three deaths, 27 recovered, eight remain active cases including three listed as critical.
U.S. Virgin Islands – These islands have had 66 cases with four deaths so far and 51 recovered with no hospitalized patients. According to Governor Albert Bryan Jr. non-essential businesses in the territory were allowed to reopen on Monday, May 4th and when persons go out in public wear a mask. Recreational facilities, for example, like gyms, tennis courts and golf courses, are allowed to reopen as long as physical distancing of six feet or more is achieved and personal grooming services, like barber shops and hair salons, can reopen as well, but only through appointment and with strict sanitation protocols. Churches are also free to reopen, but no more than 50 people are allowed inside at any given time, and that includes pastors and parishioners.
Cayman Islands – 74 cases, one death. Only 10 have recovered with 63 active cases including three listed as critical.
Sint Maarten – 76 cases, 13 deaths, 44 recovered, 19 active cases including seven listed as critical.
Bahamas – 83 cases, 11 deaths, 24 recovered, 48 listed as active with one critical.
Barbados – After days of no new cases, Barbados reported one new case last Thursday to take its confirmed case tally to 81, seven deaths, 44 recovered, 30 active cases, including four listed as critical.
Aruba – 100 cases, two deaths, 81 recovered, 17 listed as active cases with four critical.
Trinidad and Tobago – 116 cases, eight deaths, 20 active cases, none considered critical.
Dominican Republic – This country continues to an epicentre of the virus with 376 new cases reported on Sunday, May 3rd, to take its total confirmed cases to almost 8,000. Dominican Republic also surpassed the 330-death toll, registering 333 deaths on Sunday as it saw another seven deaths. Currently, only 1,606 people have recovered from the virus while 6,015 remain active cases including 144 of whom are critical.
Cuba – This island nation added 38 new cases on Sunday, May 3rd to reach 1,649 confirmed cases. The country also reported another new death to take its total to 67. A total of 827 people have recovered with 755 active cases including 13 listed as critical.
Puerto Rico – This island continues to see an increase in cases with a total of 1,757. Its death toll is at 95 so far.
Jamaica – The Reggae land continues to see an increase in the number of coronavirus cases reporting another 31 new cases on Sunday, May 3rd. Of the 396 confirmed cases, the majority are employees of Alorica located in Portmore, St Catherine. Eight people have died with 33 recovered. Jamaica now has the most cases of any English-speaking Caribbean island with 422 active cases as of Sunday, including two critical patients.
Bermuda – 115 cases, seven deaths, 57 active cases, including four listed as critical. A total of 51 persons have so far recovered from the virus.
St. Lucia – A new case was reported on Sunday, May 3rd, reaching a total of 18. No deaths have been registered.

Guyana – Although there was a spike in recent cases as of Sunday, May 3rd, there have been no new cases standing with 82. There have been nine deaths with 22 fully recovered, 51 active cases including two listed as critical.
Haiti – 100 cases, ten recovered 11 deaths.
Guadeloupe – 152 cases, 12 deaths, 95 recovered, 44 active cases including six critical.
Martinique – 179 cases, 14 deaths, 83 recovered, 82 active cases, including five critical cases.
French Guiana –
128 cases, one death, 98 recovered, 29 active cases including two critical.

Up-to-date, the Caribbean region has reportedly registered over 13,000 confirmed cases and the death toll has reached around 613. People are being advised to continue practicing proper hygiene, to stay at home as much as possible, and practice physical social distancing.

Read more

 

Please help support Local Journalism in Belize

For the first time in the history of the island's community newspaper, The San Pedro Sun is appealing to their thousands of readers to help support the paper during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 1991 we have tirelessly provided vital local and national news. Now, more than ever, our community depends on us for trustworthy reporting, but our hard work comes with a cost. We need your support to keep delivering the news you rely on each and every day. Every reader contribution, however big or small, is so valuable. Please support us by making a contribution.

Local News