Covid-19 Cases Resurface in Belize with No Official Data from Health Ministry, SSB hasn’t seen uptick

Four years ago today, Belize was in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic with high levels of hospitalization and multiple deaths.  Fast forward today, and the government and health officials are treating the virus as a regular flu, as is being done in several other countries.  In recent weeks, reports have been coming into our news center indicating that Covid-19 is on the rise and that there have been cases of hospitalization.  It is a curious situation as there has been no official data coming out of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and according to the Social Security Board (SSB) they have not seen an increase in sickness claims for Covid-19.  

Deborah Ruiz, CEO, Social Security Board: “We don’t necessarily see an increase in COVID. We do see respiratory diseases, and it could very well be because persons are not going to the hospital to get tested or using the home made kits. But yes, there are increases in the respiratory but not COVID or post COVID times, not a significant increase per se.”

Reporter: When did you see this uptick, or when was it noticed?

Deborah Ruiz, CEO, Social Security Board: “We monitor cases on a monthly basis. So in terms of what I report to the board we would look at the top 10 diagnosis and there’s always respiratory infection that is high on the list apart from hypertension and the other.”

Director of Public Health & Wellness, Dr Melissa Musa-Diaz has confirmed an increase in Covid-19 cases but did indicate that it was not in significant numbers.