Positive COVID-19 Cases in Belize Fall Significantly

Mellissa Diaz- Musa

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has decided that it will only be reporting newly detected positive COVID-19 cases twice a week to the general public. That decision comes after weeks of detecting a low number of daily positive cases. On Monday, twenty-five cases were detected in the Belize District, the highest number of cases detected in a single day of recent. But, with the closure of a number of testing sites across the country, there has also been a reduction in the number of tests being administered. We spoke with Doctor Melissa Diaz-Musa, the Director of Public Health Services via Zoom.

Dr. Mellissa Diaz- Musa, Director of Public Health Services, M.O.H.W.

“Based on the different regions, we have for instance the Belize District and the Cayo District which are the bigger districts, they have reported on average between seventeen and a little as down to two on a daily basis. This last Monday Belize District reported twenty five new cases and seventeen for Cayo. So, those were two of the higher numbers that we have seen, compared to over the last week. But, in August the numbers as well were ranging around that. Remember that the positivity rate depends a lot on how many test have been done. If people come out and get tested we can see a true figure for the positivity rate. Many times, if persons have mild symptoms or are not feeling too well they may decide to not go in and get tested. But, having said all of that, our positivity rate continues to decline and continues to remain below ten, which is what we are looking at.”