The surge in COVID numbers and outbreaks in workplaces across Belize has forced the closure of many businesses and government departments including branches of the St John's Credit Union, Heritage Bank, and Atlantic Bank, as well as the closure of the General Registry and the National Assembly.
And tonight, a COVID surge is pushing hard at the Corozal Free Zone where almost 200 workers have tested positive.
It started right after New Year's when 6 asymptotic cases were detected - well tonight there are almost 200.
These cases were all detected in a day after the Zone management asked the Ministry of Health to come in for bulk testing. CEO Neri Ramirez spoke to CTV-3 90 minute ago - about the current status and how they plan to keep the zone open:
Neri Ramirez, CEO, Corozal Free Zone
"They are here from 9am in the morning and they are testing all investors and all employees of the Corozal Free Zone. As of now at this time we are speaking on the interview, they are still doing testing, but as of now 967 persons has been tested for covid19 and out of that 967 tests, 172 of those came out positive and we will meet after the testing are done here at the office to see what will be the way forward. All of these 172 persons that came out positive has been sent home for 7 days for quarantine. This 172 persons who have tested positive at the Corozal Free Zone are asymptomatic, so what I mean is that the boosters and vaccines are working so far for us here."
"The businesses personnel, the investors, they have already try to strategize with their others that are negative how they will move forward. Of course, if a business all of them are positive then that business will be closed for a period of 7 days. But of only 2 persons are positive and you have a staff of 12, then the business will continue. We just have to continue to be vigilant, we have to continue do more testings and we have to do our part."
In the end 1002 persons in the Zone were tested and 173 were positive. The Zone plans to do another round of bulk testing in 3 days to detect other, newly arising cases.
