One thing the Prime Minister does have to think about is the runaway train of COVID 19 infections. Belize now has the most active cases in the Caribbean and our number of cases per capita is the 39th highest in the world.

Since mid November cases have been climbing at an alarming rate. So what's the government going to do about it? Is there a lockdown coming? Here's what the Prime Minister told CTV-3 today in Corozal:

Reporter
"This weekend was a very heavy one for Belizeans with numerous deaths. Seven in one day including two doctors from Cayo. The state of mind in terms of the urgency of getting this COVID-19 pandemic under control."

Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"It's a matter of testing and ensuring that we can find that we can identify people when they are sick early enough so that they do not get other people sick. That is a part of what we did as I announced in the national assembly. We are also looking at encouraging sick people to stay home and the government, if necessary, will provide them with groceries to eat even if we have to come up with a small stipend despite the fact that there is not much financing that we have to have every effort to encourage people to stay home. Tomorrow the technical people from the ministry of health, the doctors are going to make a presentation with another set of recommendations as to what we are going on our way forward."

Reporter
"Is a lockdown being ruled out?"

Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"No, nothing is being ruled out. Everything is on the table. We have to make sure that we can flatten that curve as quickly as possible. I think our Belizeans are finally understanding how deadly COVID-19 is. I appeal to Belizeans, please be careful. We are coming to Christmas and the new year's. I know those are two very important dates, not only is it when we celebrate the birth of our savior, the next one is the beginning of the new year. This is one time I am asking Belizeans to stay home within your bubble and celebrate with your bubble. Don't go out and have parties, please be safe and stay safe."

Channel 7

Pre Christmas Lockdown?

Will government lockdown the country for Christmas? That's been the very persistent rumour since last night - but, the question tonight is - does the young Briceno administration have the iron will to enact such a measure and face the backlash at the economically busiest time of year?

It would be like shutting down the economic engine at close to full RPM's - and many say that with nearly five thousand active cases and over 200 dead - it's not an option but a necessity.

But, others say - accurately - that if we have another lockdown they will simply starve.

A tough, tough call - and which way will Belmopan go? Today the Minister of Tourism Anthony Mahler - himself recently recovered from COVID - wouldn't commit to much - only saying that it's under consideration:

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
"Like I said we will have a press conference on Friday and, but I will listen to the experts, and if a lockdown is required then from a health standpoint yes. It is going to have some deleterious effects on the economy and because we're already 9, 10 months into COVID."

"I saw a report the other day that China is already operating at 90% of where they used to be but that 10% that has been gone has been so crippling for many small and medium enterprises. So the reality of Belize that we're operating at about 10 to 15% of where we were last year. And so we have 85-90% that needs to come back for us to be where we were and so it is crucial there a lot of businesses, there are a lot of people out of work there are a lot of business's on the brink of shutting their doors and so it is a crucial time we have to look at the situation as a whole, we have to look at the health issues and we have to look at the economic issues, and so we have to be a responsible government but if the health professionals with data tell us that there needs to be a lockdown then we will consider it as a government."

The acting DHS says that there will be a press conference on Friday when she will also answer questions about a timeline for the availability of COVID 19 vaccines.

An article published online at a site called CentralAmerica.com has some interesting conclusions on the possible Belize timeline for the vaccine.

While not exactly the New York times, CentralAmerica.com says Belize will likely access vaccines through the COVAX program. .

Channel 7

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Would Tourism Minister Support a Nationwide Lockdown?

There has been widespread speculation that strict measures will be imposed in the days ahead to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus in Belize. While that has not been confirmed, we do know that the Briceño administration has postponed Friday’s planned Sitting of the House of Representatives and that a press conference will instead be held on that day on the COVID-19 strategy going forward. Earlier today, we were with the Minister of Tourism and asked him about the call for a nationwide lockdown by C.E.O. Kennedy Carrillo of the Ministry of Blue Economy. On her social media page over the weekend, Carrillo posted that with the spike in COVID-19 numbers and related deaths, there is a need to stop the spread of the virus. But a lockdown is a tough decision to make given the already fragile economic state of the country in the wake of the previous lockdown earlier this year. Minister Anthony Mahler says that, with advice from health experts, the government will make a decision whether or not to impose a nationwide lockdown.

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism

“We will have a press conference on Friday, but I will listen to the experts. If a lockdown is required then, from a health standpoint, yes it is going to have some chaos effects on the economy because we are already nine ten months into COVID-19. I saw a report the other day that china is already operating at ninety percent of where they used to be, but that ten percent that has been gone has been so crippling for many small and medium enterprises and so the reality here in Belize that we are operating at about ten to fifteen percent of where we were last year. So you have eighty-five ninety percent that needs to come back for us to be where we were. And so it is crucial; there are a lot of businesses, a lot of people out of work, a lotta businesses at the brink of shutting their doors. And so it is a crucial time. We have to look at situation as a whole. We have to look at the health issues and we have to look at the economic issues. And so we have to be a responsible government. But if the health professionals, with data, tell us that there needs to do a lockdown then we will consider it as a government.”

Channel 5

Will Government Lockdown? Press Conference Friday!

It's been almost a week of persistent lockdown rumours. They started after the heart-wrenching death of doctors Kevin and Kenneth Guerra and were only bolstered by news that Dr. Marvin Manzanero, though stable, had been admitted to the hospital. Then there was the news that Ingrid Vega, the wife of deceased PUP area rep David "Dido" Vega, had been intubated. A series of events either tragic or terrifying that prompted an emotional response from an anxious public.

And by Sunday, Kennedy Carillo CEO in the Blue economy, echoing many others, was publicly calling for a lockdown. But the comment section wasn't exactly on board.

And yesterday when we spoke to the Minister of Tourism Anthony Mahler, he told us that quote: "If a lockdown is required from a health standpoint then, YES."

He also told us that all would be discussed at a Press conference on Friday. But what's on the agenda for this looming press conference. Well, everything, that's according to the Minister of national security who during an appearance on a morning show this morning said quote: "We are not taking personal responsibility and so we have to enforce."

When we asked him to elaborate, he told us via text, quote, we are presently fine tuning all the regulations so I would prefer to wait for tomorrow when we host the press conference" end quote.

Channel 7

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Home Affairs Minister Says Belize Needs to Consider a Lockdown!

As we head into the holidays and new measures are put in place, talk of another lockdown has been swirling in the public. As we told you earlier this week, one government C.E.O. is calling for a lockdown to contain the COVID-19 cases. Today, Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa was asked about his stance on a lockdown.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“Definitely we need to consider a lockdown and cabinet on Tuesday rightly put that on the table and we had hours of discussions on the different options because as you know we are having the highest number of COVID cases all across the country. And so we have to devise a plan for a way forward in order for us to not just protect the lives of our loved ones but to also take into considerations other factors including our economy. As you know right now, it is Christmas time and everywhere you go there is still this hustle and bustle and to be quite frank there is not a much personal responsibility that you can observe out there and many times it is the police who have to take matters into their own hands and so what you find right now is that a lot of people are being detained under the current quarantine laws but what that brings is also problems because that by itself can be a super spreader to be detaining hundreds of people a day putting police officers directly in contact with possible COVID positive individuals.”

Channel 5