Belize has its recorded its fourth COVID-19 patient, and this one may represent a critical tipping point. By that we mean, this Patient 4, a 55 year old man from San Ignacio may be the first instance of community spread COIVD 19, meaning he had no recent travel history; he apparently contracted COVID-19 here in Belize.
The implications of that are serious and far reaching, and while we will tell you all we know about him and his contacts, the first update tonight is on his condition. Reliable reports suggest that patient 4 is having breathing difficulties and was this evening sent from the Western Regional Hospital in Belmopan to the isolation ward at the KHMH - which is only to be used in the case of critical care patients.
Two hours ago on today's "Ask The Experts" session Drs. Marvin and Russell Manzanero discussed the fact that he had pneumonia and this has compromised his respiratory system:
Dr. Marvin Manzanero - Director of Health Services
"He had been started on antibiotics which would have been the routine treatment given to anybody who appears with a pneumonia that's seemingly acquired in the community and that's why he was placed on antibiotics, not that there were any specific medication for Covid-19, but that's the reason why he was started on medication. This patient #4 required further support with antibiotics. He was having respiratory distress, that's the reason why he is in a hospital setting. Not because there is any specific management, but you are going to manage it as you go along, because he was having that respiratory progression."
Dr. Russell Manzanero, Director of Epidemiology Unit
"This is real now, it is becoming more of a fact. We still cannot establish if in deed, this was a travel related case or in deed, this person came in contact with somebody who travelled. So we are trying to establish that at the moment. However, I just want to let the public be aware that this situation might be in itself already here and the transmission could be ongoing. We don't know, but that is the reason why all these measures, the state of emergency and the quarantine in being put in place."
As we said, this evening, reports say Patient 4 was transferred from the isolation unit at the Western Regional, which is in a tent, via ambulance to the KHMH.
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