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There are still no confirmed cases of swine flu in Belize but just the talk of a possible pandemic is causing a panic. Belize Elementary School cancelled classes today because of the threat and today when we drove around town – we found out how supermarkets, boutiques, and schools are preparing for the worse, while hoping for the best.

Keith Swift Reporting,
Today at the city’s busiest supermarket – Publics, cashiers, store clerks, and shop assistants were wearing masks and using hand sanitizers.

Jacky, Supervisor – Public’s Supermarket
“Public’s is one of the biggest stores in Belize City and you see most of the people come to buy here. We have a lot of people coming here and we don’t want any of our staff affected so this is for precautions, it is better you give all of them.”

Keith Swift,
Is it optional or does everyone have to wear one, I some without?

Jacky,
“Yeah we give to everyone but then some of them they don’t care for it so it is their choice. We can’t force them to wear it but for we, we decided to give it to them. So it is up to them if they want to take precautions they could but it is up to them.”

But on Queen’s Street at the of the city’s newest stores – Bargain Bash – all employees had on their masks and gloves. Manager Darwin Henderson says it was a staff initiative.

Darwin Henderson, Manager - Bargain Bash
“We started this morning after the news last night with the cancelling of the concert that was supposed to be happening and postponing Agriculture Show, so this morning we decided that as the threat is getting more serious in Belize, we decided to start using it.”

Keith Swift,
Have any of your employees hesitated to use it?

Darwin Henderson,
“No actually I think everyone is a bit concerned so no one hesitated. Actually they asked me about it this morning and so it is better to be safe than sorry and we all decided to go with it and so we did.”

This is one of the few students at Holy Redeemer Primary School who had on a mask. What we did find were precautionary measures like constant hand washing.

Molly Hewlett, Principal – Holy Redeemer Primary School
“We are following exactly what the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education are insisting on. We have posters around with the healthy precautions and encouraging children in the classrooms to wash their hands, make sure they don’t put their hands near their mouths, eyes, and nose.”

Keith Swift,
Are you looking out for symptoms?

Molly Hewlett,
“Yes we are. We were warned this week by the Ministry that in case we have any children with flu symptoms to send them home and we have been doing that.”

As we said earlier, the results from CAREC are still not in – and when we last checked at 6:30 – they were still waiting on a call – which seems unlikely to come this evening since Trinidad is two hours ahead. It will most likely be announced at the press conference tomorrow morning and we’ll be airing that live here on Channel 7 at 9:00 am.

7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited and Prepared for the internet by Keith Swift