The COVID 19 situation in Belize is getting more serious and more severe. There are now 252 active cases - the highest in months.
And, to add to it all, there is now a new variant in Belize. The Ministry of Health and Wellness isn't sure just what kind yet - but at a vaccine campaign launch today - where there were no technical people at the head table - the minister said they are awaiting results:
Hon. Michel Chebat, Minister of Health & Wellness
"Based on analysis done by the Central Medical Lab commencing on Friday last week, we are able to say that a variant of the COVID virus has now been detected in Belize. Two sets of samples were ran; twenty out of a set of thirty-five detected a variant of concern and twenty-two out of forty-seven in the second sample ran detected a variant of concern. At this time, we do not know exactly which variant it is, our samples has been sent to Baylor College for gene sequencing to assist us in identifying the variant. We hope to have that information shortly. As defined by the CDC a variant is one for which there is evidence of an increase in transmissibility, more severe disease, significant reduction in neutralization by anti-bodies generated during previous infection or vaccination, reduce effectiveness of treatments or vaccine or diagnostic detection failures."
"As a consequence of the rising numbers and in an effort to contain the current spread, Minister Musa will be announcing the new measures which shall come into effect on Sunday 4th, July."
"In terms of where the variant was detected local experts believe that it could be the delta strain but it is only a belief. As I said before, the swabs have been sent to Baylor College and once they are able to confirm then we will be able to come back to the Belizean public and confirm the variant that has been detected. It has been detected in several parts of the country; one person was detected in Ladyville; we have detected it in the south in the Stann Creek District."
The Ministry is hoping to get in new equipment in august to scan for the new strains. Importantly, the Minister says that COVID Astra Zeneca is effective against the Delta strain - if that is the new variant currently in Belize.
