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Princess Casino Closes for Contact Tracing and Sanitation

With the re-opening of the casinos, the Ministry of Health & Wellness has been conducting ongoing active surveillance and testing. Today, May 15, 2021, 82 staff members from the Princess Casino were tested and a total of 21 persons tested positive for COVID-19.

Of the 21 positive cases, 17 persons are asymptomatic and four are mildly symptomatic and are receiving appropriate treatment. All positive persons are in complete isolation and contact tracing is ongoing.

The Princess Casino is currently closed until contact tracing and proper sanitization has occurred.

The Ministry of Health & Wellness reminds the public to continue to follow the COVID-19 guidelines: wear masks properly in public, maintain physical distancing and wash and sanitize hands often. Please stay at home and call the ministry's hotline at 0-800-664-2273 for more information.

COVID-19 Outbreak at Two Belize City Schools Linked Back to Princess Casino Outbreak

Contact Tracing Ongoing Following COVID-19 Outbreak at Princess Casino

The Ministry of Health & Wellness continues contact tracing since the identification of the recent COVID-19 outbreak at the Princess Casino in Belize City on May 15, 2021. The Central Health Region surveillance team has been able to link positive cases at Queen's Square Anglican School and Wesley Primary School in Belize City.

At Queen's Square Primary School, one teacher has tested positive and is in isolation. Students of the class are also being tested. The other teachers have been tested and all rapid tests so far have returned negative. They are now awaiting the results of their PCR tests.

At Wesley Upper School, a 12-year-old student tested positive. At Wesley Lower School, three students tested positive, ages 10, eight and seven. These students are all close contacts of persons linked to the Princess Casino outbreak. The seven-year-old student is exhibiting mild symptoms while the others are asymptomatic. All students are in isolation. The teachers and schoolmates of these children have all been tested apart from the seven-year-old whose classmates will be tested tomorrow.

Heightened surveillance is ongoing throughout the country with emphasis placed on anyone who has frequented the Princess Casino. Any of those persons or anyone who has any cold or flu-like symptoms, please visit the nearest health facility in order to be assessed. The only means of controlling an outbreak is through increased testing, early isolation of positive cases, and early treatment.

The public is also encouraged to call our toll free number for more information and/or guidance: 0-800-664-2273