As we've been reporting, nightly the number of COVID cases continues to climb, and the the total number of confirmed cases has risen exponentially since the start of August. As of last night, the Ministry of Health's total count is at 1307 posiitves, and there are no immediate signs that the infection curve will flatten out.
Well, police are getting ready to prosecute a group of 20 people who were allegedly engaging in an illegal party last Friday night at a home on Aloe Vera Street in Belize City.
The cops say that 3 of the attendees should have been in mandatory isolation because they tested positive for COVID-19. But, they were found at this illegal party, and now, all 20 are now being held in quarantine because of their potential exposure to the virus.
When we asked the Police Commissioner Chester Williams about this incident, he could hardly contain his outrage at the public health risks identified at this illegal party. Here's what he had to say on the topic today:
Chester Williams - Commissioner of Police
"It is just sad to see that some Belizean people continue to blame everybody for the increase in the number of COVID cases in our country. But, those who are out there, causing the spread, fail to understand and realize that they are the ones to be blamed. We had received information - I think was Friday night or Saturday night - that was some party in Saint Martin's area. Police went to the location, where indeed, there was a social gathering, and about 20 persons were there, including 8 minors. And among those persons who were at this social gathering, there were 3 persons who were COVID-19 positive, at that gathering. Now, I don't understand how reckless and irresponsible one can be. You know that you're infected. You should be insolation. But yet, you are among people socializing. And, what makes the matter even worse is that some of them didn't even have on a mask."
"They'll be charged with breach of isolation, or breach of quarantine requirements because by law, once you're told to be in isolation, and you breach isolation, then, that is a charge. They will also be charged along with the others for engaging in an illegal social activity. So, as soon as those persons are out of quarantine - because all the persons who were at that social function at the time had to be placed in quarantine until the test results are out. And then, the 3 persons who were infected, were placed in mandatory isolation. So, as soon as the entire situation with them is sorted out, then the police will lay charges against them."
Reporter
"I have to bring up that the family is saying that...?"
Chester Williams - Commissioner of Police
"I don't care what the family said, I don't want to hear it. They need to be more responsible."
Reporter
"The treatment that they received by police at the home and at the police station is unjustifiable."
Chester Williams - Commissioner of Police
"The police should have flog them. These are things that continue to occur, and then people begin to ask, and blame this one, and blame that one, why the cases are going up. But, these are the same type of people who are causing us to be in the position that we are, currently. And I am sure that there are many more of these parties or social gatherings across the country. It's just that sometimes, the police don't know. But, I want to make an appeal to the public that whenever you see these gatherings, please report it to the police and we're going to respond."
