The Government of Mexico has donated 100,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Belize. A small delegation headed by Maximiliano Reyes Zúñiga, Undersecretary for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Secretariat of Foreign Trade and Immigration, arrived at the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport to personally deliver the vaccines on behalf of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico.
During opening remarks, Martha Zamarripa Rivas, Ambassador of Mexico to Belize, extended on behalf of President López Obrador, condolences and support to the families that lost loved ones to COVID-19, which has taken 325 lives in Belize. She also noted that Belize is the first country to have received this donation out of solidarity and also to promote equal access to vaccines in countries of this region.
Michel Chebat, Minister of Health & Wellness, in turn thanked the president, government, and people of Mexico for their generous donation. He said, “The successful completion of this process could not have been better timed as this donation will help us bolster our ongoing vaccination program. The immediacy with which our call was responded to by Mexico has not slipped us and we are truly humbled to be the first country to benefit from Mexico’s generosity.”
Maximiliano Reyes Zúñiga spoke on the donation of vaccines that should ultimately assist countries in rebuilding their economies. Bolivia, Paraguay, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador will also be receiving vaccines.
As Belize and Mexico commemorate 40 years of bilateral relations this year, Belize remains committed to strengthening cooperation between the two nations. Belize extends its appreciation for this humanitarian support made possible through the Mexican Foreign Ministry, the Mexican Air Force and Direct Relief.
Th e government of Belize yesterday announced the relaxation of the COVID19 curfew. Commencing on Monday, June 14, 2021, Statutory Instrument No. 66 of 2021, is to come into effect. The new S.I. will extend the curfew for another thirty days. However, there is a slight change to the curfew hours. From Sunday to Wednesday the curfew will run from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m the following morning and from Thursday to Saturday, it will run from 12 midnight to 4 a.m. the following morning.