The 14th and 15th deaths related to complications with COVID-19 were reported on Friday, September 4th by the Ministry of Health (MOH). One of the deceased is a female patient from San Pedro Town, identified as Cecilia Tzib. She had been airlifted and hospitalized at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for a week with respiratory issues. The other patient that died is an unnamed male person from Rural Belize. According to Director of Health Services at MOH, Dr. Marvin Manzanero, the male victim was asymptomatic. He reportedly suffered from fatigue, loss of appetite and tested positive for COVID-19 in a posthumous test.
Additional information from the San Pedro patient indicates that Tzib was diabetic. Her complications with this chronic disease are believed to have been exacerbated after becoming infected with the deadly virus. A nephew of the island victim, Richie Tzib shared that COVID-19 has changed their lives. “It is unfortunate that my aunt became a victim of the virus,” he said. “This shows how much prevention is better than cure.”
Tzib said that people need to understand the severity of this virus. He pointed out that it may not affect those who are fairly healthy, but the elderly or persons with health complications should be looked after. They are the most vulnerable to this current global health crisis.
This is the second resident of San Pedro to die from complications of COVID-19. The first patient was also a female, who passed away in August from liver complications. She was confirmed to be positive with the virus after her death.
Dr. Manzanero explained again that this virus aggravates established health conditions including diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, along with other non-communicable diseases. The general public is reminded to please wear their masks, practice social distancing, wash hands and if at all possible, stay home.
