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The Belize Port Authority Denounces Police Actions in Tugboat clearance.

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The Belize Port Authority Denounces Police Actions in Tugboat clearance.
The Belize Port Authority Denounces Police Actions in Tugboat clearance.

20 August 2020
PRESS RELEASE
The Belize Port Authority denounces in the strongest possible terms, the actions of the police to
charge Vessel Traffic Officer Keeron Young for “aiding and abetting” the exit from Belize of
Elvis Lennarez, Raymond Dawson Jr., Ryan Godoy, Dane Foreman and Herbert Godoy on board
a tugboat 4./. Ellis with barge ZMT/.
The Port Authority operates an clectronic system for processing of documents for arrival to and
departure of ships from a port facility. This was instituted in March 2020 primarily to reduce the
potential for exposure to the Coronavirus, and in keeping with the Government of Belize’s
mandate to transition to electronic processes.
As part of this system, a Shipping Agent for any vessel departing from any port facility in Belize
is required to email a Notice of Departure form to the Belize Port Authority. This is then checked
to ensure that it contains the required information and is accompanied with the other requisite
documentation. It is then stamped, dated, signed then emailed by the officer back to the Shipping
Agent.
There is no personal interaction with the vessel or crew, and no inspection of the vessel in this
process. The purpose of clearance is to ensure that the international standard of documentation is
met when a vessel leaves a port in one country with destination in another country, and for the
computation of the appropriate fees.
On 25 July, 2020, Officer Young was on duty at the Port Authority office in Belize City, which
is his assigned place of work, when he processed a Notice of Departure from Shipping Agent,
Banana Enterprises Limited. This form notified the Port Authority of the expected departure of
tugboat A.J. Ellis and barge ZMT/ from the Port of Big Creek. These Belizean cargo vessels
frequently operate between Belize and ports in Guatemala and Honduras. They had in fact made
in excess of 15 voyages since March 2020. The normal operation of these vessels is to go
without cargo, and return with full payloads of fertiliser, containers, and boxes for the
banana industry, which it did on all those voyages.
The notice was received by the Belize City office because that is the only office open on
weekends and 25 July, 2020 was a Saturday. As per procedure, Young stamped the Notice of
Departure and emailed it back to the Shipping Agent. This was the extent of his involvement
“Maritime Service, Security & Efficiency”

with this matter and at all material times he was at the Belize City Port Authority office and the
vessels were in Big Creek.
The Port Authority strongly condemns these charges; they are baseless, unjustified,
unsubstantiated. Cargo vessels are allowed to enter and exit Belize as an exception to quarantine
regulations. There was therefore nothing illegal in what Young did, and nothing that was
contrary to policy.
These charges seriously undermine the legitimacy of the work of the Belize Port Authority to
ensure safety and smooth operations at port facilities throughout Belize. It also undermines the
confidence of the dedicated, focussed and hardworking young men and women of the Belize Port
Authority, like Mr. Young, who conduct their duties with pride and integrity. The question now
needs to be asked: who will clear the next vessel scheduled to leave?
The Belize Port Authority calls on the Commissioner of Police to withdraw the charges
forthwith.
—– END OF RELEASE ——
“Maritime Service, Security & Efficiency”

29 New COVID-19 cases Detected

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29 new COVID-19 cases detected from 252 samples 09-27-2020
29 new COVID-19 cases detected from 252 samples 09-27-2020

A total of 252 tests were processed today with 29 new cases identified.

The distribution is as follows:

Corozal – 14 (7 in town, 1 Louisville, 1 Progresso, 1 San Andres, 1 Caledonia, 1 Libertad, 1 Chan Chen, 1 Chunox)

Belize – 4 (3 in city, 1 from Calcutta in Corozal)

Cayo – 5 (all in Belmopan)

Stann Creek – 1 (Bella Vista)

Toledo – 5 (all from Big Falls)

We have 31 cases recovered so that our active cases now stand at 34.2% of the total cases.

This week follow our activities on this and other social media forums to address the topic of chronic diseases and its link to COVID-19.

Follow MOH to stay updated!

30th Covid-19 Death And 65 New Cases

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30th Covid-19 Death And 65 New Cases 10-04-2020
30th Covid-19 Death And 65 New Cases 10-04-2020

A total of 253 samples were processed today with 65 new cases identified. For now, we are only able to provide distribution per district and the full details of active cases per community should be available throughout the course of tomorrow.

Cayo – 4
Stann Creek – 6
Corozal – 7
Belize – 8
Orange Walk – 40

We have 32 recoveries to report so that 35.9% of our identified cases remain active.

Unfortunately we have another death to report, this is in a male in his 50s from Unitedville, he had been at KHMH’s ICU and had been having cardiac complications from when he arrived and the diagnosis of COVID had been made upon his admission to the ICU. Two patients currently remain intubated at KHMH.

Our case fatality rate is now 1.37%.

The team at the airport also cleared 192 passengers from the two flights that arrived today, 88 of these passengers arrived with a negative PCR and the airport screening process managed to pick a positive case in the remaining ones screened. We are hereby reminding all those returning to their families, home or workplace, that it is anticipated that all will be doing self quarantine for a minimum of 10 days notwithstanding a negative result; this is the broad recommendation to minimize further exposure.

Ministry of Health Warns The Public on Still Hosting Parties Amidst the Spread of COVID-19

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Ministry of Health Warns The Public on Still Hosting Parties Amidst the Spread of COVID-19
Ministry of Health Warns The Public on Still Hosting Parties Amidst the Spread of COVID-19

In terms of the 94 cases reported yesterday, this is the breakdown per community.
Please note that by no means does this mean that the communities not included can be considered to be in the clear, as we move along, we have to assume that all communities are affected.
It saddens us to note that big parties are still being reported in communities across the country, this will not help in flattening any curve.
Stay home unless you really have essential activities away from home.

Follow Ministry of Health to Stay Updated!

Another COVID-19 Victim

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Rolando Torres died as a result of COVID-19 today at the KHMH
Rolando Torres died as a result of COVID-19 today at the KHMH

Reports are that Rolando Torres died as a consequence of COVID-19 at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Torres, a dweller of San Ignacio was to be intubated upon transfer to the KHMH for treatment. Reports suggest that he was nestled in the standard ICU even though he was showing breathing signs and symptoms.
Presently There are concerns of probable direct exposure to the virus given that he was not getting treated in the COVID-19 isolation unit despite exhibiting Covid-19 related symptoms.

34 NEW CASES AND ONE DEATH

This is our data for today.A total of 317 tests were conducted today.

A total of 34 new cases of SARS-CoV2 were identified with breakdown as follows.

Corozal District: 3 (2 Patchakan, 1 Concepcion)

Orange Walk District: 1 in OW town

Belize District: 11 (5 San Pedro, 1 Caye Caulker, 3 City, 1 from Xaibe CZ, 1 hospitalized at KHMH from San Ignacio)

Cayo District: 19 (5 Belmopan, 4 San Ignacio, 1 Santa Elena, 7 Benque Viejo, 1 San Jose Succotz, 1 Camalote)

We have 34 recovered cases.

We have one more death to report, this is in a male from San Ignacio who had been intubated at KHMH and died earlier today.

PC Still Missing from Joint Patrol

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PC Bernardo Ical Missing in Joint Patrol
PC Bernardo Ical Missing in Joint Patrol

Belmopan. September 4, 2020. 2:15 p.m.

The Ministry of National Security is currently engaged in an all-out search in the area between Machaquila and San Jose, Hawaii for a missing member of a joint BDF/Police Border Patrol.

On September 3, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. the patrol commander reported that PC Bernard Ical did not arrive at the rendezvous point in San Jose, Hawaii along with the remainder of the patrol.

For their safety, the patrol was recalled from Machaquila due to the pending threat of Hurricane Nana. According to the patrol commander, PC Ical had gone ahead of the rest of the patrol around 10:00 a.m. on September 2nd. The remainder left shortly after; however, they did not catch up with him and upon arriving at San Jose, Hawaii around midnight, they realised that he did not arrive at that location. The patrol waited until 8:00 a.m. expecting that PC Ical would show up. Thereafter, they reported that he was missing.

Search parties comprising of BDF, including the BDF Air Wing, and police have been deployed, and Guatemalan counterparts have been notified in case he may have mistakenly wandered into Guatemala.Ends

54 New COVID-19 Positive Cases Detected

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54 new COVID-19 positive cases emerge 09-08-2020
54 new COVID-19 positive cases emerge 09-08-2020

We have processed a total of 249 samples.

A total of 54 samples are reactive for SARS-CoV2 with a preliminary breakdown as follows:

Corozal District: 1 in Patchakan

Orange Walk District: 19 (8 Town, 4 San Jose Palmar, 2 Trial Farm, 2 San Luis, 1 Honey Camp, 1 Yo Creek, 1 Tower Hill)

Belize District: 12 (7 City, 5 San Pedro)

Cayo District 10 (8 in San Jose Succotz, 1 Benque Viejo, 1 San Ignacio)

Stann Creek: 12 (5 in Dangriga [1 Border Jumper], 1 Hopkins, 1 Middlesex, 5 are from OW but swabbed in Dangriga)

We have 7 recovered cases.

Please continue to stay safe and limit your interactions in public.

Follow MOH For updated details on COVID-19

Fifteen new Covid-19 Cases in Belize

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Fifteen new Covid19 Cases in Belize1 08-04-2020
Fifteen new Covid19 Cases in Belize1 08-04-2020

PRESS RELEASE

Ministry of Health Identifies 15 Cases of COVID-19

Belmopan. August 4, 2020. 9:45 p.m.

Fifteen new cases of COVID-19 have been identified today as a result of the contact tracing of cases identified over the weekend. These cases are part of a record number of 148 samples processed in one day. The new cases are as follows.

Seven cases have been identified in Corozal. Seven cases have been detected in Orange Walk. San Pedro now has one new case.

Five cases are from the repatriation process and these persons are under quarantine orders. Two of the cases in Corozal are linked to the case identified over the weekend and three cases in Orange Walk are tied to the case identified in that district over the weekend. The remaining five cases appear to be unrelated; however, contact tracing is currently ongoing for possible links.

For now, the Ministry of Health calls on the entire nation to remain calm and to only listen to official sources of information. The Ministry will continue to update the public as information becomes available.

The public is reminded to maintain social distancing, practice good hand hygiene, and properly wear masks at all times in public settings. For health-related inquiries, call 0-800-MOH-CARE.

Ends

Security Forces Sent to Western Border

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Soldiers with riot gear are on the ground at the Western Border 1
Soldiers with riot gear are on the ground at the Western Border 1

The BDF and other forces was deployed on the western border with Guatemala as a preventative measure. This is in response to block a caravan of a large number of Honduran migrants entering through Guatemala and on their way to the United States. There are no reports indicating these migrants will be venturing through our borders, however, immigration and security forces are on standby as a precautionary measure.

COVID-19 Update August 14

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COVID-19 Update August 14
COVID-19 Update August 14

COVID-19 update:

This is our data for today.

A further 172 samples were processed today with 32 new cases identified.

The preliminary breakdown is as follows:

– 1 case in Belize City
– 10 cases in Corozal District (includes repatriated cases and cases in previously identified clusters)
– 21 in Orange Walk District (related to previously identified clusters in Shipyard and construction site)

We had one death – person diagnosed with SARS-CoV2.

We have 3 recovered cases.

We have 2 patients intubated and critically ill at the KHMH ICU.

As we move through the weekend, we anticipate clearing up all the backlog of samples from the Central Medical Laboratory.

Please continue exercising all the necessary precautions under new norms.

Stay safe all.