Will Belize Move to Self-Testing for COVID-19
John Briceño
With the threats of yet another COVID-19 variant, Omicron, will the country now move to self-testing for the Corona Virus? Such an option would definitely be a less expensive option for some who are not testing at government testing sites. The question about self-testing was posed to PM John Briceño on Wednesday following his statement that the highly transmissible Omicron variant will inevitably make its way to Belize.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“We have had that discussion in the last cabinet meeting and what we have asked is that the Ministry of Health to take a look of how we could start to do self testing. The concern that the Ministry of Health has, that the technical people have, is that it would be difficult for them to be able to keep track of the number of people that are getting sick, and where they are getting sick and who it is that they are getting sick.”
Reporter
“That’s happening now…”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Well no…presently…”
Reporter
“They are not getting tested and they have symptoms and stay home…”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“They don’t go to test; I agree with that. But the point is that presently right now with the ministry doing the testing and having different groups doing the testing, there is a reporting mechanism that is sent to the ministry. So at least with that, they could start to do some kind of projections to see about how the spread is going, where it is and what work they need to do. Now if we are not reporting, if you do the self testing – which I think the time has come to do self testing – we will still have to try and find a way, hopefully soon when that time comes that when you do a self test that you will be required to do some kind of reporting to the ministry. Unfortunately, many people don’t want to report because they know then that they will have to be isolated for, I think it is now, ten days. But what they don’t realise is that when they don’t do that, then they cause much more damage to other people.”
