Ambergris Caye under 14-day quarantine after spike in COVID-19 cases

Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow announced on Thursday, August 6^th that San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye is once again under quarantine following a surge in COVID-19 cases. The island shutdown is expected to commence at midnight Friday, August 7^th with curfews for both adults and children. The situation on the island has been deemed as community transmission, with three clusters so far, and further cases yet to be confirmed. The State of Emergency on the island will prevent anyone traveling to or from the island and will be implemented via an Emergency Proclamation to be signed by Governor General Sir Colville Young later Thursday.

Although the State of Emergency in San Pedro comes under a national Emergency Proclamation, the regulations on the island will differ from other areas of the country.

Quarantine regulations for the island include:

Curfew: 8PM-4:59AM | Children’s Curfew 5PM -7:59AM

Gatherings of no more than 10 persons, with physical distancing

Construction activity will have to cease

Restriction of movement outside of curfew hours limited to essential needs and essential services. Only emergency movements will be permitted during curfew hours.

Government offices will be closed.

Banks, grocery stores, and utility companies will be allowed to remain open.

Bars, discotheques, nightclubs, lounges, must be closed during this State of Emergency

Enforcement on travel to and from the island will be primarily at the hands of the Belize Coast Guard.

The Attorney General and Minister of National Security is expected to appear online via Ask the Experts detailing the lockdown.

COVID-19 on the island

San Pedro Town has over a dozen active cases and 19 more await confirmation. The results of the recent confirmed cases indicate that 10 cases are related to Case #57 identified on Sunday, August 2^nd. Another island case is believed to have been contracted via a church gathering, while another is believed to have been contracted via contact with an infected person from the border cases in Orange Walk. These last two are symptomatic and were picked up through the Mar de Tumbo flu clinic routine and enhanced surveillance. One of these patients has been revealed to be a child.

While the situation on the island will be strictly monitored during these 14 days of quarantine, persons on Ambergris Caye experiencing flu-like symptoms are asked to call the phone number 672-0911 and follow instructions.