Plans for rapid testing of public service personnel underway

COVID-19 cases in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, have significantly decreased, and as of Thursday, February 4th, the island is down to three active cases. Both residents and health officials welcome this statistic after the island underwent lockdowns due to outbreaks in 2020. Despite this decrease in infections, San Pedranos are urged not to let down their guard, as an outbreak in COVID-19 could see La Isla Bonita back under stricter regulations, damaging the tourism industry, which is slowly resuscitating. The decrease in active cases is reported daily by the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW). Over the past weeks, San Pedro has recorded zero cases almost daily. Doctors on the island believe this positive outlook may result from residents adhering to the safety regulations, mask-wearing, proper hand hygiene, and social distancing.

According to Dr. Joshua Canul at the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II, there is a plan to do an enhanced rapid testing campaign to detect COVID-19. He said that it would reach specific groups like the police, tour guides, persons working at entry points (airport, water taxi terminals), and bank employees. Dr. Canul added that this outreach would reveal if the island's decrease were because fewer people are being tested or fewer people are infected. San Pedro has registered a total of 549 cases since the pandemic started in March 2020.

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