Today was day two of the re-opened international airport and a big test for all the agencies screening the passengers. That's because two flights arrived - one shortly after the other - and most of them didn't bring PCR tests.
7News was pressed up against the steel mesh in the waving gallery to see how it went. Here's the story:
Two flights arrived at the PGIA today - one American Airlines from Miami and one United from Houston, a total of 220 passengers.
It's the biggest crowd the airport has seen in months - and the biggest test for the new screening protocols.
The flights arrived one hour apart but they managed to clear one flight out before the other arrived:
Misty Michael, BTB Director of Marketing & Industry Relations
"Both of them did arrived slightly earlier than scheduled, but the flow has been working really well. There are some areas that we recognized do need some tweaking to allow for a more efficient flow, but apart from that passengers have not been complaining about the process."
The process was slower today because many of the travellers did not have PCR tests:
Misty Michael
"What happened today a lot of passengers did not come with their PCR test, but if they did come with a PCR, they were in a category that requires them to be tested on arrival, so there are quite a few passengers that are waiting for their test results, but from our estimates they are taking about 20-25 minutes for their results to be provided back to them. Yesterday it was about 20-25 minutes for passengers to get their results back and they are being rapid tested. One important thing to note all of the passengers that arrived yesterday were negative."
They were tested by these folks with SD biosensor rapid test. Travellers have adjusted expectations and seemed to be coming out not too miffed at the delays.
Misty Michael
"Well eyesterdsay was primarily Belizeans or permanent residents, who were coming to stay long term. Tourist: we only had a little bit under 30 passengers yesterday that were in that tourist category that are coming in to travel within the safe corridor, but BTB has also put a new hospitality team here at the airport and they been basically in charge with ensuring that visitors feel welcomed, helping them through the arrival process in making sure that they understand what is going to be like when they travel through the safe corridor."
And while the departure hall remained basically empty and this departure restaurant on the upper deck had zero customers the airport felt, looked and sounded alive downstairs.
Misty Michael
"It's definitely excited to see the airport with this level of activity again. Tourists that did come in yesterday were really excited - the first one off the plane was extremel;y excited that he was the first tourists back in Belize since the lockdown, so yes people are excited."
Now, if only the tourists could arrive as fast as these drums beat - all would be well.
Misty Michael
"We are still technically in the slow season and we do anticipate that as the month go on and we get into Novermber and December are high season will pick up and will definately see bigger number arriving."
And as the pounding drums ricocheted across the parking lot - The hope now is that they can hear them all the way in Houston and Miami because Belize is back open for business and for those who depend on it for their livelihood, there's no better news than that.
Of the 220 passengers who arrived today - all tested negative for COVID 19.
As you heard, 82 arrived yesterday and all of them were negative as well.
Belizeans, permanent residents and all others heading into the community are expected to self-quarantine at home for 10 days and observe all COVID prevention measures.
