Another thing that's already in practice, though not on the books, is the sale and purchase of COVID self-tests which we've seen at Brodies and have heard of at one other retailer.
Government had long banned the use or importation of these because it undermines the concerted public health effort and distorts the statistics.
We asked Minister Bernard about the new relation in regs, and here's the explanation he gave us:
Hon. Kevin Bernard - Minister of Health
"The ministry has already granted approval in some cases for importation of these test and pharmacists can apply for them to import. Again, the idea that we are leaving it now to the responsibility of individuals, if you feel that - I for example, if I feel that I am down on the weather, not feeling well and I had a rapid test, I'd test myself right to make sure that one, I'm isolating myself and protecting my family and we encourage people to do so. Of course we would want to set up some mechanism that it is able to be tracked and reported at the regional hospitals, the nearest facility you can report it to and that is one part of the cabinet paper we are also presenting to put in that regulation in place."
The Minister also told us that all COVID self-tests sold in Belize must be approved by the US FDA.
