New COVID-19 Cases Continue to Decrease

We also asked Dr. Diaz for an update on the number of COVID-19 cases. According to Dr. Diaz the number of new infections continues to decrease. 

Dr.Melissa Diaz Musa, Director of Public Health and Wellness: “I think that it’s global now that you know most countries are reporting that they have been seeing reduction in numbers and this remains the same for Belize. In fact our positivity rate for the last four to six weeks have remained below 5 which is something very positive. I means that we have gotten through the last outbreak and that we’re not seeing significant increase in numbers. In addition to this the hospitalization rate remains very low and we continue to especially monitor hospitalization because when we look at the assessment and public health measures needed for COVID19 we’ve got to address a few things not just the numbers, not just the positivity rate but how sick are the persons in Belize ? So hospitalization is really key for us and if we see any changes we definitely would take precautions and measures but to date it continues to decrease.”

Reporter: Has there been any deaths recently associated with COVID19 ? 

Dr.Melissa Diaz Musa, Director of Public Health and Wellness: “I believe that we do have six hundred and eighty nine deaths throughout the COVID19 pandemic and we haven’t seen a significant increase. We’ve just got to keep in mind that with any influenza, illness with any respiratory illness we’ve got to look at who are the persons who are at higher risk. So if you do have an autoimmune disease, if you do have comorbidities with poorly controlled diabetes, hypertension you may fear off worse when you have COVID19 even if it is the Omicron or the BA4 or BA5 variants. So we’ve got to look at all of that and try to continue to drive home the message that we don’t want anyone who is at risk or who is considered with reduced immunity we don’t want any of these persons exposed to any virus even more so the COVID19 virus.”