In a virtual address to the nation on Friday, the Prime Minister of Belize, Dean Barrow updates the country on various easements to the current COVID-19 Response Measurements based on the current success of being COVID free for about a month and a half so far.
Effective as of 12:01 AM on Monday, June 1st, the number of people allowed at social gatherings will be increased from 10 to 40 as long as the place can assure that the space will be able to physically hold all 40 comfortably while still abiding by the rules of staying a minimum of 6 feet apart from each other.
Street Vendors will also be allowed to open back up but will need to comply with certain sanitary protocols that are currently being put in place by the Ministry of Health. An updated guide will be handed out to leaders of the street vendor community sometime this weekend.
The permission to operate that had already been given to open air restaurants will now be extended to all restaurants based on the strict condition that they can also comfortably hold no more than 40 people while still abiding by the rules of staying a minimum of 6 feet apart from each other.
In the gambling sector, the sale of lottery/boledo will be allowed to resume and Casinos will be allowed to open back up on the conditions that social distancing laws can be upheld and that neither smoking nor alcohol consumption be allowed on the premises until further notice.
Gyms are now permitted to open in accordance with strict guidelines that have been ratified by Belize’s National Olympic Committee.
All non-contact open-air sports are also to be permitted for practice and exercise purposes. Sportfishing is also once again allowed.
General Curfew hours are being extended on weekends allowing people to be outside of their homes between the hours of 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays meanwhile Sundays to Thursdays curfew hours will remain the same 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Children will now be allowed outside of their homes past 6:00 PM but only if accompanied by a responsible adult.
All borders will remain closed as the surrounding Countries continue to suffer from the COVID-19 Outbreak,
As for the reopening of the Phillip Goldson International Airport, the Government of Belize is currently in talks with Cabinet to and various Airlines to reopen by July 1st but it is currently uncertain whether it will happen or not as various conditions and rules must be put in to place in order to prevent a second wave of COVID-19 affecting Belize.
