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And while that story caused a buzz this morning, the real news was at the Press Office in Belmopan where the Ministry of Health’s top experts gave the latest update on the state of testing, readiness and response to COVID-19.  

It was their regular briefing on all things Coronavirus, called “Ask the Expertsâ€￾. The Director of Health Services pointed to the fact that since El Salvador and Nicaragua last night confirmed their first cases - Belize stands alone in Central America, and on the American mainland as having no positive tests for COVID-19.

He says they have stepped up testing:

Dr. Marvin Manzanero - Director of Health Services
"Given what has transpired in the last 36 hours, we have scaled up our testing procedures, over the last 24 hours we tested 13 more people, including highly suspected cases, which means that anybody who has any contact with anybody who has a travel history and is coming down with symptoms, we are testing. This morning hospitals across the country have severe acute repertory illnesses will be asked to swap their patience and send in the sample because we are still looking for any potential cases that we may not be able to detect. How may test of COVID19 have been done, a total now of 31 and where, from all cross the country. I think we have people in Cayo, Belize, Corozal, Placencia, the islands. I think we're doing a payment this morning for 1 thousand more test kits and we have gotten an offer, just being told from UNDP and IDB to do procurement of anything we may need, 3 thousand to 4 thousand more tests, so that is something we're looking at and once we have those test, then you can start doing more routine expanded screening. As it is, I mentioned you, we did 13 tests, which means we doubled the amount of test in 24 hours and we're trying to expand and really go out on the lookout for any potential case."