Mask Freedom, but Residents Still Cautious
It’s been two days since the mask mandate for outdoor spaces has been removed. While, according to the new S.I., there are still areas where the wearing of face masks will apply, it is welcomed with some level of relief. A News Five team headed to downtown Belize City and found out that despite an ease to restrictions, residents have already gotten used to the masks and are still practicing caution.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Today, we headed to downtown Albert Street where almost everyone was wearing a mask. But effective March first, they don’t have to wear a mask in public open spaces and would only have to put on when entering an enclosed area, building, church and government department. But for some, wearing a mask has become commonplace and it would take some time to change.
Lem, Sand Hill Resident
Lem
“I tend to be a very cautious person. I understand that the mask mandate has been lifted, but at the same time, I like to take precautions. I have a family that I want to take care of, make sure they stay safe so I keep mine on just for the precaution.”
There were a few residents, however, who were not wearing masks, which is perfectly legal at this time. So we stopped to ask them about their feelings.
Monica Howard & Jordan Howard
Jordan Howard, Belize City Resident
“It feels good. You don’t need to wear masks; it noh mandatory no more so why wear it?”
Duane Moody
“It gives you maybe that sense of normalcy?”
Monica Ramclam, Belize City Resident
“Yes it does. Definitely. It good fi noh wear the mask, but just stay away from crowd.”
For Dangriga residents, Rydell Baird and Jerome Noralez, they carried their masks in their back pockets, but expressed a sense of relief of not having to look over their shoulders about masks and be out even past the eleven o’clock curfew hour.
Rydell Baird, Dangriga Resident
Rydell Baird & Jerome Noralez
“Have to start breathe now; neva mi di breathe fi two years.”
Jerome Noralez, Dangriga Resident
“Well basically like weh mi big bredda say, mask – they got times for the short of breath people, yo can’t really breathe could during the mask and activities yo do during the day; it actually affects your breathing. So round dehn yah time, if yo could get the chance to do it, I noh see why not.”
Despite the mixed comments today, one thing was for certain, all are well aware that COVID is still out there and they must remain vigilant.
Lem
“The numbers have been dropping steadily, we have a rather high vaccination rate within the country so we are taking necessary precautions as a country, which I appreciate, but like you rightly mentioned, the threat itself is not completely gone – even those who are vaccinated can still contract the virus. So in efforts to keep safe, I am just taking the necessary precautions – this is my personal choice of course.”
Jerome Noralez
“We stay with our sanitizer. Once we go round people who noh have on dehn mask cause we have our mask on us. You know like when yo have things pan yo, that dah how we do it. So dah like we can’t go dah war without yo gun, so we have. So when we see people without mask, then we mask up.”
Rydell Baird
“Like di man say, yo just have to be precautious. Wash yo hands any time you can; put on yo mask if yo enter wah building or stuff like that. And then from there, leave the rest to God.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
