On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019. The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003, but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll. Belize has postponed its census to 2021 in order to divert census funding for national emergency funding.
Timeline
March 2020
The country's first case was announced on 23 March, a Belizean woman who returned to San Pedro Town from Los Angeles, California. The second case was announced on 25 March. They had immediate contact with the first case. The third case in Belize was announced on 29 March from a traveler returning from New York City to Belize City.
April 2020
The 5th confirmed case of coronavirus was confirmed in a Belizean student who returned from Florida in the United States. At the time he was reported to be in self-isolation at a quarantine facility and had no symptoms. By 13 April, the last of 18 initial domestic cases of the COVID-19 was reported in Belize. Of these, 2 people died.
May 2020
The last of the remaining 16 reported cases had recovered by 5 May.
June 2020
On 5 June, a new case was reported. It was a male Belizean National who came home on a cruise ship with other fellow Belizeans. He was already under quarantine when the case was reported. On 6 June or 7 June, a 22-year-old infected but asymptomatic female was caught entering the country illegally and was placed into the mandatory quarantine facility in Punta Gorda, along with her 2 travelling companions who were not infected. On 19 June, a young asymptomatic female Belizean returning to Belize from Texas on a repatriation flight was found to be infected upon testing at her arrival and was sent to immediate quarantine as per the established protocol. She has been identified only as Patient 23. On July 14, there have been a total of 39 cases of COVID-19 cases, with 16 active cases and majority are from Orange Walk District, with 7 being from Blue Creek Village and 2 are repatriated persons, the remainder are repatriated cases, majority in Belize City and new active case in San Ignacio and Santa Elena Town with unknown origins. Contact tracing has begun with the infected individual. The villages of Blue Creek and San Felipe has went into a month lock-down due to the cluster from Blue Creek.
July 2020
As of Tuesday July 21, 2020, there are a total of 43 confirmed cases, 18 of those are active, 23 have recovered and the death count remains at 2.
Prevention measures
In the light of the announcement of the first two cases of COVID-19 in Belize, Prime MinisterDean Barrow declared a State of Emergency for San Pedro on March 25, 2020. Residents of Ambergris Caye were placed under mandatory quarantine. Onlу еssеntiаl wоrkеrs were аllоwеd to trаvеrsе the strееts. "Unаuthоrizеd vеssеls will be bаnnеd frоm lеаving оr аrriving on the islаnd,” а ѕtаtеmеnt frоm the Gоvеrnmеnt sаid. At the time the Ministry of Health announced it was tracing everyone that may have been in contact with the Belizean woman who tested positive for the COVID-19. Prime Minister Dean Barrow also closed schools on March 20 with tentative resumption on April 20 pending any changes in the situation. He banned public gathering of more than 25 people and he imposed border restrictions. All flights were grounded effective March 23. Only cargo would be able to cross the borders and docked by sea. Belizeans were still allowed to return to Belize but residents would not be allowed to leave the country unless it is an emergency. The Minister of health asked that anyone having flu-like symptoms stay home, self-isolate, and call the hotline at 0-800-MOH-CARE for further guidance. On March 30, a state of emergency was announced across the country, as well as a curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. from April 1 to April 30. Initially, Foreigners who had traveled to European countries, Hong Kong, China, Iran, Japan, South Korea in the past 30 days were not allowed to enter. Belize closed its ports of entry except for the Santa Elena Border and Philip Goldson International Airport which remained open according to Belize's Ministry of Health. Cargo vessels were allowed to use all ports of entry. In early April, the government announced that borders would be closed to all travellers, including Belizean nationals except for emergency situations. The last of 18 initial domestic cases of the COVID-19 was reported in Belize on April 13. Of these, 2 people died and the last of the remaining 12 were reported recovered by May 5. Through a series of statutory instruments #41 to #65 & 66, the state of emergency was modified a number of times and restrictions began to be eased.
