In other news...
Last night, we told you about the spike in the number of coronavirus cases taking place in the Bahamas. They are one of the nations which re-opened its borders to tourism and visitor traffic. They started accepting tourist visits as of July 1st, and now, in only 3 weeks, they saw a spike of 49 new cases being detected. The Bahamas Ministry of Health statistics indicates that at this time, they have detected a total of 174 positive cases.
As a result, Bahamasair, the country's international air carrier, announced on Monday that it was suspending regularly scheduled flights to the US, to conform with the Government's decision to close its borders to American tourists.
Since Americans have traditionally formed a significant portion of the tourism visitors to Belize, we asked the Director of Health Services if Belize should follow the example of the Bahamas, and close our borders to American nationals at this time. Here's how that conversation went at another event:
Reporter
'What lessons can we learn from the Bahamas which has closed its borders with US visitors given the situation that the prime minister described has deteriorated since they opened?"
Dr. Marvin Manzanero - Director of Health Services
"It's a fluid situation. If you look at every country, they started off with different processes. Jamaica for example started doing PCR testing upon arrival. We have 2 separate processes that we have mapped out for Belizeans and foreigners. The foreigners would go to 2 rapid tests, separate situation from the Belizeans returning which are going to go through a PCR test, because levels of exposure to the community and it depends on what you find as you go along. I also know that people are concerned that schools are open the week before, but if you are having tourists going through a specific corridor zone, I don't know that that would be a concern. I think the concern has got to the be the Belizeans returning to the communities. That's still is a flag for us."
Reporter
"Specifically for American tourists, should Belize consider maybe closing our borders to those type of tourists at this time given the situation in their country, sir?"
Dr. Marvin Manzanero - Director of Health Services
"Again, if you go through the process, because it says if you have 2 positive tests upon arrival you will be quarantine. It doesn't matter what nationality you have. Understand that we have a mask situation here that you will have to abide, doesn't matter what nationality the people have. All those measures if are there in place and abided by, you follow the protocol I think we should have a pretty safe corridor."
Reporter
"We know that the US situation is fast deteriorating and they formed a major part of our tourist customer base."
Dr. Marvin Manzanero - Director of Health Services
"Again, things can change. When we spoke to the CMO from Jamaica she herself said the issue with our protocol is the changes every week, the same thing with us. You can have 22nd August you have a different situation to deal with and you deal with it as you move along."
Email
Print