82 staff members of the Belize city Princess Hotel and Casino were tested and 21 persons positive for COVID-19, according to an official government press release 15 May 2021. The Princess Casino has been shut down by the authorities. The Princes is the largest casino in Belize, located in the trendy Princess Margaret Drive nightclub and entertainment strip in Belize’s City’s affluent Kings Park northside area.
A Ministry of Health press release today reads in part:
“With the re-opening of the casinos, the Ministry of Health has been conducting ongoing active surveillance and testing. Today, May 15, 2021, 82 staff members from the Princess Casino were tested and a total of 21 persons tested positive for COVID-19. Of the 21 positive cases, 17 persons are asymptomatic and four are symptomatic and are receiving medical treatment. All positive persons are in isolation and contact tracing is ongoing.
“The Princess Casino is currently closed until contact tracing and proper sensitization has occurred. The Ministry of Health & Wellness reminds the public to continue to follow the COVID-19 guidelines: wear masks properly in public, maintain physical distancing and wash and sanitize hands often. Please stay at home and call the ministry’s hotline at 0-800-664-2273 for more information.”
The incident comes one month after the Belize government relaxed the COVID19 rules and curfew and gave the go ahead for the reopening of casinos, gyms, contact sports and extended restaurant and nightclub opening hours. The relaxed curfew has today been extended via a new Statutory Instrument according to a statement released by Commissioner of Police Chester Williams “For those asking about the SI here it is. My earlier post was only to answer the queries of those who were asking and to keep you informed of the law relating to Curfew.”