COVID-19 pandemic in Belize

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) 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 country's first case was announced on 23 March, a Belizean woman who returned to San Pedro Town from Los Angeles, California.

[12] On 5 April, the Queen of Belize addressed the Commonwealth in a televised broadcast, in which she asked people to "take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return".

[16] 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.

[citation needed] As of Tuesday 21 July 2022 there are a total of 43 confirmed cases, 18 of those are active, 85 have recovered and the death count remains at 2.

[citation needed] As of 24 July, there are a total of 48 confirmed cases, with the death count remaining at 2, and no known community spread.

[30] In early December, Dr. Marvin Manzanero, the Director of Health Services in Belize, said that he tested positive for COVID-19 and had experienced minor symptoms in his throat; while Prime Minister John Briceño returned to work, saying he had recovered from his bout with the virus.

[31] Marcelo Ebrard Mexican Foreign Minister, announced on May 12 that Mexico will donate 400,000 doses of Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Belize, Bolivia, and Paraguay.

[32] In the light of the announcement of the first two cases of COVID-19 in Belize, Prime Minister Dean Barrow declared a State of Emergency for San Pedro on 25 March 2020.

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.

[34] Prime Minister Dean Barrow also closed schools on March 20 with tentative resumption on April 20, pending any changes in the situation.

[35][36] 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.

[38][39] 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.

[citation needed] In early April, the government announced that borders would be closed to all travellers, including Belizean nationals except for emergency situations.

[44] Through a series of statutory instruments #41 (March 26) to #65 & 66 (May 4), the state of emergency was modified a number of times and restrictions began to be eased.

[48] Moreover, Belize has received a donation of 10,000 doses of the Sinopharm BIBP vaccine form the United Arab Emirates.