MOHW Says No Mask Mandate this Holiday Season

While the Ministry of Health and Wellness is not expecting another major outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, hospitalization numbers in some parts of the United States have seen a significant twenty-five percent uptick. This has prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to recommend that citizens wear masks during the Christmas Season. The ministry continues to monitor the covid-19 cases in Belize, but will some of these mitigation measures be reintroduced this holiday season? Minister of Health and Wellness, Kevin Bernard says his ministry is assessing the situation before making any decision. Minister Bernard adds that ultimately the onus is on each individual to protect themselves.

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness: “Met with the technical people that would advise me on what we should do. We of course always follow guidelines sent out through the region. I’m not sure that masks will be something that we will quickly jump on and say you need to use masks but if you want to use masks wear your mask. I wear my mask. I do so to protect myself , to protect my child, to protect my wife and my family so it is upon us as individuals to know that if you feel ill to wear a mask. I’m not saying that that is going to be something that we put mandatory to the Belizean people.”