And turning back now to the storm that's bearing down on Belize at this hour - the National Coordinator of NEMO says that the organizational priority for NEMO is the opening of shelters, and making sure that everyone in that shelter is practicing COVID prevention measures:
Col. Shelton Defour (Ret'd.) - Coordinator NEMO
"Organizational priority for NEMO is the opening of shelters which we have schedule for this afternoon. That is absolutely priority so that people could have a safe dry place to go to, in terms of saving lives. The second thing that goes along with that is the human resource and protective equipment and likewise the protective equipment for shelterees, the people seeking shelter. We are impressing the chairman of NEMO message from the Prime Minister that we must ensure that people wear a mask going into the shelters. But individuals to protect themselves or protect the person next to them must be wearing a mask and practice good cough or sneeze etiquette."
Jules Vasquez
"At what time will shelters be opening?"
Col. Shelton Defour (Ret'd.) - Coordinator NEMO
"The plan is to open the shelters at 4pm. We were looking at putting it a little later, but normally we know from experience 4-6 is when you see people start to mobilize and start to trickle in to try and reach to their shelter."
