COVID Still in Belize; Omicron Prevalent Strain

COVID Still in Belize; Omicron Prevalent Strain

For weeks now, we have been getting reports of increased active cases of COVID. Persons were asked not to show up to work, but to stay home and recover, but there was no official confirmation of the increasing positivity rate. Today, the Ministry of Health and Wellness confirmed that there was an increase in active cases in Belize, but that it is now on a decline. Director of Health Services, Doctor Melissa Diaz-Musa confirms that omicron is the prevalent strain and that positive patients are presenting upper respiratory symptoms.

Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa, Director of Health Services, MOHW

“From May June and July we have been seeing fluctuation of cases, so not necessarily a significant increase that we are concerned about. But COVID is a virus, COVID is endemic in country, its endemic globally and so we do know that it will continue to spread. The main and common symptoms that people are presenting with are sore throats, headaches – more upper respiratory tract illness. I just want to make mention that we are not seeing any increase in hospitalization at this time, due to COVID-19. So there are fluctuations in the number of cases. In fact, I have the latest information and it is just showing that mainly the districts of Belize District and Cayo have reported the highest cases with a higher positivity rate than Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek and Toledo. But again, still not in any numbers that are significantly concerning for us. The number of persons, of course, tested has reduced. So when you look at positivity rate, which is the number of positive cases over the total number of cases tested, we know if you don’t get tested, we wouldn’t see significant changes. But obviously the persons going to be tested are persons who are symptomatic. So it is not anything that we would say that it has become a significant concern for us at this time for any of our six districts.”