With the significant surge of COVID-19 cases in Belize, the latest reports of epidemiological analysis from the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) suggest that the country is experiencing the peak of the current COVID-19 wave. MOHW’s Dr. Melissa Diaz explained on Wednesday, January 19th, that the country may soon start to see a downward trend in infections.
Dr. Diaz said that Belize would be at pre-Omicron levels from the beginning to mid-February. She noted the hospitalization rate is decreasing just as the fatality rate is. Officials at MOHW have attributed these results to the vaccine against COVID-19. Diaz also revealed that the two strains of the virus circulating in the country are Delta and Omicron.
COVID-19 may soon be endemic
Although the contagion rate is very high, medical experts believe that the pandemic may soon become endemic. “It’s looking like that. The virus has been so transmissible, and people have developed some defense, it may just become like one of the other viruses that cause the flu,” said Diaz.
The latest COVID-19 report shows over 9,000 active cases in Belize with San Pedro Town, Orange Walk Town, and Belize City with the most cases. However, the number of hospitalizations is not on the rise. Only 24 hospitalizations are currently reported, with the majority fully vaccinated. There are five patients in the Intense Care Unit of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City. Two of which are fully vaccinated, two non-vaccinated, and one partially vaccinated.
The government also noted that if no other variant of the virus and cases decrease, land borders could open as scheduled in February. In addition, the current curfew could also be removed entirely.
