All this week, we've been telling you about Statutory Instrument No. 36 of 2022. That's the latest amendments from the Ministry of Health and Wellness crafted to relax the very strict COVID public health protocols of social distancing, wearing of face masks, and nightly curfews.
Those regulations became so strict in 2020, that Belizeans had to adjust their schedules to race home ahead early curfews every night. Breaking curfew, or not wearing face masks carried heavy fines, but 2 years of the COVID pandemic has since passed, and Belizeans have gotten their doses of the vaccines and booster shots.
The Briceno Government thinks that now is the time to return freedom and responsibility back to the citizen and remove enforcement from the state and police. It's a major swing in daily quality of life, and we took to the streets to find out how Belizeans feel about the change.
Daniel Ortiz took a closer look at the context of the relaxation of the COVID rules, and here is his report:
For almost two years, getting caught on in public during curfew hours without proper explanation or a pass, and failing to properly wear face masks in public places were criminal offenses.
These regulations were originally crafted under the Former Barrow Administration's State of Emergency for COVID-19, back when the deadly virus had initially afflicted the world.
Police had a hard time convincing Belizeans to respect this new law, and as a result, they had to step up their enforcement efforts.
File: May 4, 2020
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"It should not be on your forehead or on your chin. If it's on your forehead or chin you are in violation of the law and you will be arrested. I know that people are ranting and raving on social media about the wearing of masks. I don't like the masks either, but the law is put in place for a reason and it is for all of us to comply with… Cooperate, comply, and pretty soon we should be back to our normal way."
7 months later, the State of Emergency had long been lifted, but mask-wearing and curfews became a regular part of life, and they were grouped together with other COVID best practices as the social distancing rules for public health safety.
Even after all that time under the regime, Belizeans were still struggling to adjust to this strict quality of life change. The Police Commissioner expressed frustration, especially because it taxed the department's resources to police these rules.
File: November 30, 2020
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"We are still seeing people having parties here, there, and everywhere. We are still seeing some places that want to open despite they should be closed; we are still seeing people gathering in large numbers. We are still seeing people without a mask or with their mask improperly worn. These are the things we need to stop if it is that we want to slow down this virus. Then we must ensure that we adhere to the health protocols that have been listed in the quarantine regulation."
7 months ago, the Home Affairs Minister signaled that this relaxation, which Belizeans are now witnessing would come as more citizens took the vaccine. In that environment of heightened
File: July 5, 2021
Hon. Kareem Musa - Minister Home Affairs
"If we get to the 70%, we can even have a carnival. It's kinda hard because the carnival is right here in September, but it's still aspirational. I think we can get to 70% easily by Christmas. So, let's have a regular decent Christmas. So let's get out, get vaccinated, and protect our loved ones."
Unfortunately, the alarming spike in the newer variants of the COVID later that year virus clearly made Carnival an impossibility, and the Christmas season had to be enjoyed safely indoors.
2 full months later, the Government, by the stroke of the Health Minister's pen, has significantly eased up on this demand to always wear face masks, and adhere to the nightly curfew.
File: March 1, 2022
Hon. Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness
"For the mask-wearing, we are saying if I am walking on the street, it's outdoors if I'm just walking on the street on my merry way home, I don't really need to wear a mask. I just want to say this though because we don't want people to also not understand that that doesn't stop me, Kevin Bernard, or anybody from not wanting to wear their mask. If you feel that you're not feeling safe, wear your mask. Now if you're indoors, at the church, at a concert which we are now allowing at 75%, at a wedding celebration, you must wear your mask, - at a sporting event at a stadium and you're a guest in the audience, you must wear a mask. Any public building, government building, shops, supermarkets, banks, you must wear your mask."
We wondered how citizens are digesting these new relaxations of the COVID public health best practices.
Interviewee #1
"I'm loving every minute of it. I'm tired of these masks."
Interviewee #2
"It's very frustrating to breathe under these masks sometimes. So, all I am doing, I'm just enjoying myself, breathing in the fresh air, relax. I just can't wait until nightclubs start opening up because we need to get back to some normalcy. Come on."
Interviewee #3
"The curfew didn't really matter to me because curfews aren't stopping COVID - well in my eyes. But, the mask, everything takes time. I feel like they were rushing it. The mask didn't need to be removed because it was doing a lot of protection. They could have just waited. [It would be] bad to know that we don't even have any Easter [holiday] because we don't really need to wear masks again. We're breathing into each other's personal space, and stuff like that. So, the mask could have to wait a little longer. COVID is here to stay, so we don't need to rush everything."
Interviewee #4
"The mask out in public is essential because we can't take chances. We still aren't sure what is flu, or what is the virus flu. So, we still need to take those precautions. I will wear it for my protection, my family, and other people. We still need it. We still need more time. Yes, it's going down, and everything is looking better, but we still need to take the precautions necessary."
Interviewee #5
"I think it's a good idea because especially when the heat comes on, we can't breathe. You're walking on the street with the mask, and so, this is a good idea. It gives us a break to relax. We are going to breathe better because sometimes I can't breathe. The government is doing good."
Interviewee #6
"When you see a lot of people, you don't know who has the sickness and who doesn't. Gathering, they are about, and when you look the cases are raising again. It's up, and then, you hear, they have to lockdown again. I live all the way in the village of Colombia. I came out from my house at 3:30 this morning, and I will still use my mask when I go to the warehouse. The job that I do is a trucking and freighting. I will stay with my mask and my hand sanitizer. I am not stopping."
Interviewee #7
"I don't mind about the curfew, but the mask, I think that we should still wear the mask because of the Coronavirus."
Interviewee #8
"Life itself is a risk, right, but at the end of the day, prevention is better than cure. The young man looked at me and told me, you don't have to wear your mask. The only thing you have to do is die and live. But still, the mask, on a scale of 1 to 10, it's like a 5% security."
Interviewee #9
"It's a good idea because it is releasing the country from situations and things like that. I'm the one who's supposed to take care of myself."
Interviewee #10
"I can breathe better for one, and of course, a lot of people don't read or pay attention to the SIs. Overall, I think we just have to be responsible about it. Be responsible, and ensure that as long as you're in crowds, keep on the mask. If you're by yourself, in an open area, it's fine."
Daniel Ortiz
"Easter is coming up shortly. Do you think it will encourage people to be more irresponsible?"
Interviewee #10
"I think it will, knowing how Belizeans behave, but I advise all Belizeans to think twice before they go maskless. Watch and pay attention to your surroundings."
Hon. Kevin Bernard - Minister of Health and Wellness
"It has come to a time where we will now put the responsibility in the hands of the individual. We have to be responsible, I have to be responsible, you have to be responsible, Belizeans have to be responsible to do the right thing."
