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"Test, test, test" - that's what all the experts say is the key to stopping or slowing COVID 19. And, compared to countries that are having success against the virus, Belize isn't testing nearly enough of the population.

But, tonight 7News has learned that sometime after March 12, Belize turned down the donation of as many as 25,000 testing kits from South Korea. A leaked SICA memo says quote, "The tests are 99% accurate and are compatible with those used by all SICA member countries, with the exception of Belize, which is why they declined the donation. The tests are on their way to Honduras to be distributed equitably among SICA member countries."

So, Belize never got that donation and right now the country has about 700 tests and is running short of a key testing element. Additionally, new tests are hard to source right now.

The Director of Health Services Dr. Marvin Manzanero gave an overview today:

Dr. Marvin Manzanero - Director of Health Services

"We do have test kits and enzymes to run at least 700 tests but I do have to state that just like in the regions we are running low on the viral swabs which is the little specific lab equipment that you use to be able to take a viral swab and we're trying to outsource that, we thought we could have gotten a batch next week. We are working with the PAHO regional office, but all countries are having a difficulty in terms of accessing those viral swabs. I'm saying that because I know of the things that everybody is requesting is they want to be tested for SARS COVID 2 but it hardly works like that yet. We are not at the stage where we are just going to be swabbing everybody. We had said that maybe in the next 4 to 6 weeks is when we can have access to rapid test and make that available to people much more routinely."

We were unable to get comment this evening from the Ministry of Health on what was the compatibility issue that made Belize turn down the donation made by CABEI.