7 News Belize

The Problem With Public Transport
posted (March 31, 2020)
And for those not facing quarantine, and who work in essential service, they want to know how they will be moving around for the next month during the national state of emergency. Well, the bus situation is even more complicated, because while public transport will be allowed to run within daylight hours, who will get on the bus if most folks are under quarantine. The PM says they bus operators wanly GOB to pay for their runs:...

Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow- Prime Minister
"Because clearly the district to district movement will be greatly restricted, when the final list of businesses to be closed is announced, the public bus owners and operators are saying they will not be able to do any runs at all except if government subsidizes them. That's understandable but the extent of the subsidy is something else. They are not asking for duty free fuel. They want government to pay for all there fuel. Well, that's a conversation that has to continue."





No Cruise Ship Calls Anytime Soon

And while the bus companies wait to see if GOB will save them, we turn back now to an industry that's been all but completely obliterated by COVID-19, the cruise ship industry.

On March 13th the Belizean arm of that industry experienced its own armageddon when Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian cruise lines suspended operations for 30 days due to the pandemic. But if tour operators and vendors were hoping for a light at the end of that tunnel it's not so, because that initial 30 days has now been extended.

And, as the COVID-I9 pandemic continues to evolve, many of the major cruise lines have pushed back their starting date to resume operations. Carnival Cruise Line has extended its suspension until May 11, 2020, Royal Caribbean Cruises until May 12, 2020, with some exceptions. And Norweigan Cruise Line has suspended all cruises until the second week of May 2020. But if and when the Cruise ship industry comes back online it remains to be seen whether the low budget multiple destination option, now seen as a germaphobe's nightmare, can ever regain its popularity.





Man Burnt In Griga Fire

There was a house fire on the Melinda Road in Dangriga last night and it left a 53-year-old man hospitalized with burn injuries.

Police say that they showed up at around 9:47 p.m and they found a 15 foot by 20 foot wooden home engulfed in flames. Firefighters were busy trying to put the blaze out, but the cops did not find the homeowner at the property. They later visited the home of a man, and that's where they found 53-year-old Linsford Polonio. He was suffering from burn injuries to the lower parts of his body. He told police that he was at his home on Melinda Road, and he lit a mosquito coil. He was under the influence of alcohol, and he fell asleep. He later woke up to the strong smell of smoke, and that's when he realized that the lit mosquito coil fell on one of his beds. That coil lit the mattress on fire, and while he was trying to throw it outside, he got burnt.

The firefighters were able to put the fire out, and Polonio was taken to the Southern Regional Hospital for medical treatment.





KHMH Adjusts Visitors' Policy

On Monday, March 23rd the KHMH informed the nation that they had entered a state of emergency. At the time the hospital said that elective services had been postponed and amended clinic hours would be announced.

And today on the eve of the nationwide state of emergency the KHMH is announcing two changes to its emergency mode visitor's policy. They had already made clear that only one visitor per family would be allowed in the A&E Department and that was for special case patients: minors, those who require assistance, and those in a critical state.

Visitors to the General Ward were also limited to one person per patient, with additional visitors only allowed for critical patients. But today those visiting hours were cut in half. Now, the visiting hour is from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. And if you need to pick up a loved one from the hospital you'll have to do it within that hour.

And the policies are even stricter in the COVID-19 isolation ward where only patients that are under 16 will be allowed a visitor.

The KHMH advises that these guidelines may change based on the community spread of COVID-19.





No Visitors, No Revenue, Zoo Animals Need Food

This morning the Prime minister detailed just how he scrambled to secure funds with which to support the unemployed during the COVID-19 crisis and the ensuing national State of Emergency. But there's another population that will have to be fed. They are the residents of the Belize Zoo and the critters on hiatus from teaching Belize's youngest about wildlife will require fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat.

That's because the zoo's main source of revenue - which was local and foreign tourism - has vaporized.

This afternoon we spoke via phone with Founder and director Of the Belize Zoo Sharon Matola who's grateful for the donations she has received and told us that some of them came specifically in the name of a certain Jaguar.

The Belize Zoo is taking donations in kind of fresh fruit, vegetables, or meat. If you would like to make a donation, please email frontdesk@belizezoo.org or call +5016253604





The Quarantine Kumbaya

And, so even as it seems that the world is closing in around us, all things considered, Belize is managing well enough so far with this global pandemic. OF 103 tests done, so far only 3 have come back positive - which is encouraging so far.

But, many of us are in uncharted territory and face an uncertain future. But, the Chairman of the national task force and CEO of The Ministry Of Human Development says we can all use this pandemic as an opportunity to put a few things in perspective:

Judith Alpuche- CEO Human Development
"If we can re-frame it and see it as a national effort that we have to engage in to protect ourselves and to protect those that we love to see as an opportunity for us to spend time with our family. To really engage in things and in ways that we didn't have an opportunity to in our busy lives. So, to really see the opportunity that is being presented to us through this state of emergency."





Containing COVID, Its On You, Community

And, the Director of Health services kind of backed that up. After outlining the over two million dollars that government has spent on purchasing medical supplies and equipment, he says it's now on the community to do its part to contain the spread:






Can The Police Contain Mayhem?

And it's also the community's responsibility to keep calm. But can the public - especially the most needy - stay calm if this thing stretches on for months?

A few weeks ago we caught up with George Lovell CEO of National Security at a media training workshop and asked him whether he thought military or law enforcement would be required to carry out Panic or crowd control in the most extreme scenario of a national emergency. Lovell seemed to have complete confidence in the Ministry of Health's quarantine plans but he said that if law enforcement had played a role they would need to treat citizens with dignity.






No Exercise During Lockdown

But, if folks are to stay under control - they will need an outlet, to at least get out of the house, and take a walk, or do some exercise. But is that even allowed under the curfew regulations? According to the Attorney General, if you're out of your house during the day, it must be with a purpose - and exercise is not one of them:

Reporter
"Is any consideration being given to people who, under doctor's orders need to get out and exercise early in the mornings?"

Hon. Michael Peyrefitte- Attorney General
"It would be a decision that we would have to look into after we get the input. But I don't know, you can exercise at home or I don't know. If it must be that you must exercise outdoors then clearly we will have to contemplate whether or not we do that. But the more we add to the exception the more...I would like to think that even if you do enjoy outdoor exercise you can wait for two weeks."







Sani-Tyres

And, whole exercise is not allowed, one business did an exercise in kindness for frontline workers during the COVID crisis.

They have been going around making donations of hand sanitizers to the police, bus operators, and the hospital. This evening, they called us to pick up a donation of sanitizers for our newsroom for use on the job, while we try to keep you informed during this COVID-19 Pandemic.

One of the company's representatives told us why they see these donations as important:

Judy Perez - Marketing Department, Caribbean Tires
"We at Caribbean Tire, we're always thinking about safety. Safety is our number 1 priority, and that is something that we have been pushing throughout the years that we have been opened. So, why not think about this as well? We know that the country is going through a crisis on a whole. Even for us, we're feeling it, but we're thinking about the people on a whole. So, we have decided to bring in a thousand cases of hand sanitizers, which of course, we're trying to sell it at a really reasonable price to the public. And of course, while selling it, we still thought that we need to give back to the country. So, we have been out delivering to the police department. We have for the front line - Karl Heusner, the bus owners - we want them to think about safety, and we're giving back to them. We'll be doing this countrywide. Our guys are out there right now, trying to get to these departments and issuing them."

Reporter
"I'm pretty sure people are receiving it with gratitude, this kindness."

Judy Perez
"That's right, and it's very important for the country. So, we want the public to know that we are with them. And of course, our staff, our families, we want everyone to be safe as well."








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