And MOH will need all the help it can get as we maneuver through this fourth wave of the pandemic - which is now peaking.
With testing centers overwhelmed, today, the PM was asked about home testing kits and if Belizeans will soon be able to test themselves. Presently - in a much criticized policy decisions - these are banned from importation.
The PM said it's something that's in discussion, but that there are a few kinks to work out first.
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"We have had that discussion from before the Christmas and the initial reaction of the covid advisory team they were very concerned about home testing. They were concerned because they felt that presently the companies that have a license to test, they have access to the database from the ministry of health. So whenever you go and take a test, your name goes into that database and then if you are positive, it goes into the database and then the ministry of health has better data to find out how many people are getting sick and where and who etc. But they felt that if you just do it at home, that they will lose that contact."
"I think we are coming around to that. I believe that pretty soon we will be allowing home test to be imported and people can do their own test at home. Of course, we will have to work out the protocols, for instance, if you get a home test that shows that you are positive, will that allow you to go to social security? probably not. I think what will happen is that once you are shown to you are positive then you will be required to go to the ministry of health to take a proper test to ensure that you put in the information and then can give you medication and follow up to see that you're doing well. So it's a number of things that have to be worked out and I believe that they are working on that right now."
