The Ministry of Human Development and social services says ample food packages have been distributed to all the villages under lockdown.
And keeping it in Orange Walk, last night, we told you about the family of 7 from Blue Creek in the Orange Walk District, who say that they've been unfairly subjected to a quarantine period of 42 days and counting.
2 of those family members have been accused of border jumping, and because they initially tested positive for COVID-19, they were all detained for quarantine purposes. Now, a border jumper is supposed to spend only 14 days in quarantine. But in this case, some mix-up happened, and so, this family of 7 ended up spending 26 days additional days in quarantine. And they're still there!
The press asked the Director of Health Services about that family at today's virtual press conference, which was hosted by the Prime Minister. Here's what he had to say in response:
Dr. Marvin Manzanero, DHS
"We got that report actually that has happened also in San Ignacio understand that once somebody is negative they are really no longer should be kept under the quarantine orders however, what I believe has happened is once you have completed your quarantine situation then you have a legal situation If you are a border jumper then it is a police matter so I know we discussed it last night with CEO Alpuche chair of NOC to see how we can expedite that situation because we even considered that if they are going to be going to jail time maybe they have already started to serve part of their jail time and whether those should be credited if you will because they should not have been there if they have turned out to be negative an you are right if they have been there for 40 days and they should have left at day 14 , that is an extra 26 days that they should not have been kept there so we are following that up we are looking for the reports for, primarily that has happed in Orange Walk and in San Ignacio, I don't know that it has happed elsewhere but you have a very valid point, that should not happen."
Human Development CEO Judith Alpuche also granted a few comments on this same question, and she made the point that there is an element exaggeration in the complaints from the border jumpers, who are asserting that they are being detained under "inhumane" conditions. Here's how Alpuche suggested that some of these complaints are false:
Judith Alpuche, Head, COVID-19 Nat'l Task Force
"We are looking at it, we are looking at as I said, as doc said the links between, you know, when you finish serving your quarantine and then the whole legal aspect of it but in terms of the conditions of people, I have heard those concerns as well levied at San Ignacio and Orange Walk in particular. I went to Victor Galvez myself, I wanted to see it myself over the weekend and it is certainly not a 5-star hotel because that is not the intent or that is not what we can provide. I spoke to the people there, saw the conditions and I am not seeing any kind of inhumane conditions. I understand that people are not happy with the situations they are in, who would be in a border jumper facility, but we really have to suss out what is real and what is perception or otherwise. I had an incident yesterday with a journalist sending me pictures of food that was supposed to be served at Orange Walk facility saying that you know the meals were sloppy etc. and I immediately sent it to my coordinator because first of all it looked half eaten etc. What was sent back to me in terms of the meal that would have been served for lunch looked like any other normal meal that you would buy out there on the street and the point was being made by the caterer or the volunteer because these people are volunteers, that the packaging that was sent was very different from the packaging she used, one was foam and one was more biodegradable and she has bought all her packaging and has consistently used the packaging. See, I think it is important for us to sort out what is true and what is not the case and we are taking the time to do it as I said I have gone to one facility myself to see what is happening and that certainly will continue."
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