Announced September 15, Belize announces new COVID-19 measurements, including a 7:00 pm daily curfew (San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Placencia, and Hopkins are not affected) and two no-movement Sundays, except for essential purposes: September 26th and October 3rd. The tourism industry and workers are considered essential and can operate fully during these no movement days. The updated curfew, and no-movement days, come into effect as of Monday, September 20, 2021. Although the overall infection rate is slowing in the Caribbean, destinations like Belize are looking to stop COVID-19 spikes in its track amidst confirmation of the highly transmissible Delta Variant becoming the dominant strain in the region. Notably, before their traditionally busy tourism seasons in November forward.
Belize’s New COVID-19 Measures:
![the-deck-alaia-belize-night]](https://caribbeanlifestyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/the-deck-alaia-belize-night.jpeg)
The Deck at Alaia Belize. Image courtesy of property.
In order to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19 in Belize, Prime Minister, Hon. John Briceño has announced the following restrictions, starting Sunday, September 20th, 2021. These restrictions will be in place for a period of two weeks:
- A curfew will be imposed countrywide during the hours of 7 p.m. to 4 a.m., except for San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Placencia, and Hopkins. The curfew for these areas remain at 9:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. daily.
- Restaurants will only be allowed to provide take-out service, except for restaurants in the areas previously mentioned.
- All hotels, and accompanying restaurants, outside of San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Placencia, and Hopkins can operate and abide by the 9:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. curfew.
- Sunday 26th September and Sunday 3rd October 2021 will be declared no movement days, except to seek medical attention or to purchase medication, groceries, and fuel. The tourism industry and workers are considered essential and can operate fully during these no movement days.
- All casinos and churches are to be closed.
- Contact sports are not allowed.
CARICOM Maps A Way Forward
CARICOM Headquarters.
On Tuesday, Caricom leaders met virtually in a Special Emergency Meeting to discuss growing cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. In the Caribbean, Grenada, Barbados, and Bermuda are reporting sharp spikes in cases. Jamaica saw its highest weekly case count since the beginning of the pandemic. In North America, infections rose by one-third due to surges in the United States of America and Canada. In Central America, infections are surging in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Belize with many hospitals saturated with COVID-19 patients.
Tourists from the United States can travel to Belize if they show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 96 hours of traveling or proof of a negative rapid antigen test taken within 48 hours of traveling, according to the Belize Tourism Board.
