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Coronavirus Disease – COVID 19 Situation Note No.1

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Coronavirus Disease – COVID 19 Situation Note No.1 Coronavirus Disease – COVID 19 Situation Note No.1 As of 18:00 hours, 26 March 2020 OVERVIEW OF SITUATION IN BELIZE HIGHLIGHTS Two (2) COVID-19 cases confirmed in the country, both in San Pedro Town, Globally: 462,684 confirmed, Ambergris Caye. The second case is mother of the first patient. 40 598 deaths February 8. Ministries of Health and Immigration announced that travelers Region of Americas: 75,712 confirmed, 1,065 deaths who have visited China within the past 14 days will be denied entry prior to arrival, On March 13, international cruises announced suspension of Central America: Confirmed - activities. On March 15 the ban was extended to travelers from China, Hong Mexico 478, Panama 558, Costa Kong, Iran, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and Europe within the last 30 days. Rica 201, Honduras 52, Guatemala 24, El Salvador 13, March 16, 2020: First meeting of National Oversight committee established Nicaragua 2 measures to close the Western, Southern and any other small border points entries in Belize for passengers and left the northern border and the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport open. Closure did not apply to cargo vessels. Social gathering limited to no more than 100 people and announced schools to be closed effectively March 22, initially for fourteen days until further notice depending on how the situation evolves and Belize’s March 20: Second meeting of National Oversight Committee established Northern Border of Belize closed for travelers (in and out except for emergencies) but remained open for cargo transportation. Only Belizeans nationals, residents and diplomats residing in Belize were allowed entry subject to inspection and quarantine for 14 days. Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport closed after the arrival and departure of last scheduled flights but remained open to freight or cargo flights. It also limited social gathering to no more than 25 and recommended self-isolation. March 21, 2020: Belize’s Ministry of Health was notified of an American national who was in Belize and tested positive for COVID-19 in the U.S. after departing Belize a week ago. The Ministry traced all persons that were in close contact with the American and those encountered showed no symptoms but were all placed in isolation for 14 days. As a result of this discovery, any national or foreigner arriving in Belize were viewed as a potential case and as such all persons arriving in Belize were required to go into a 14-day self-isolation upon arrival. March 23, 2020: following the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Belize District, Government of Belize declared a state of emergency for Ambergris Caye initially for 72 hours to allow proper mapping and tracing of contacts. Residents and vessels (unauthorized) of the island were placed under mandatory quarantine and were not allowed to leave or return to the island. March 25, 2020: Mandatory quarantine in Ambergris Caye was extended to 30 days after Belize registered its second COVID -19 (Coronavirus) case on the island; all bars, clubs, and casinos countrywide were closed while restaurants were closed for dining, but take-out services were allowed. UPDATE ● A second confirmed case for COVID-19 was reported on 25 March 2020 in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye. She is mother of the first patient. ● Currently there are two (2) COVID-19 cases confirmed in the country, both are in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye. The second case is mother of the first patient. ● The Ministry of Health reported that 87 tests have been conducted, to date. ● Five additional persons from two districts were tested, but all produced a negative result. ● State of Emergency for Ambergris Caye has been extended for total of 30 days but this will be reevaluated as the situation changes. ● 32 Cuban health professionals arrived in country to support COVID-19 response. ● Belize Port Authority prohibited vessels from departing and proceeding to San Pedro (23 Mar 2020). COVID 19 Internation Situation Note - No. 01 | 2 ● A COVID-19 protocol for public transportation still place. ● Daycare centers, public and private schools continue to be closed until 20 April. ● All bars, clubs, lounges and casinos countrywide are closed until further notice. ● Restaurants continue to be closed for dining-in, but take-out services allowed. NEEDS/CHALLENGES ● Purchase of additional laboratory test kits and PPEs. ● Equipment and supplies for isolation areas in target health facilities and in other identified locations.. ● Reorganizing health services to address COVID-19 response needs. ● Continuous transmission of key messages to the general public (health promotion) ● The estimated budget for emergency response in the ECD/Education sector is as follows. o $70,200 USD to support Ministry of Education to reach 387,000 parents, teachers and children with continuous education and critical hygiene and prevention materials for education/WASH access ● The estimated budget to prevent undernutrition is USD 43,550: o 30,000 USD/month for the School Feeding Programme o 13,550 USD as requested from the Ministry of Health to provide 300 packages with Incaparina, oranges and bananas for children and pregnant women; and printing flyers to promote nutrition and hygiene. ● Protection sector needs - Budget estimates: o Prevention: 30,000.00 USD o Response: 50,000.00 USD ● WASH sector needs – Budget estimates: o USD $29,160: Reach approximately 30,000 children and their families in communities with health and hygiene education messages to help keep them safe from the virus with Ministry of Health. o USD $43,200: Production and dissemination of Health Communication materials to inform, save and minimize adverse consequences within the 9 municipalities ● Logistics sector needs: Budget estimates USD 300,000 ● Social Protection needs - 487,320 USD (TA: 58,320; Cash transfers: 429,000) - to be fundraised. o Funding will go towards enhancing technical capacity for the MHDSTPA as well as expanding/extending cash transfers to families most affected through the crisis and rapid assessment and improvement of response based on sharing of experiences within Belize and with other countries ● Data, Monitoring and Evaluation needs – Budget estimates USD100,000.00 ● Adolescent Health and Participation needs – Budget estimates USD20,000 RESPONSE Health PAHO ● PAHO training on laboratory diagnosis of new coronavirus (12-13 Feb, Mexico). ● Purchased canisters and shipping packages for shipment of samples. ● Procurement of additional laboratory test kits and personal protective equipment (PPEs). ● Joint assessment of the level of preparedness of health facilities and isolation areas. ● Support for the implementation of risk communication and community engagement strategy. ● Awareness sessions for public and private institutions. ● Revising of National COVID-19 Response Plan. ● Providing COVID-19 awareness sessions for various public and private institutions. ● Provision of technical guidance for case management, reorganization of health systems and expansion of health services in response to COVID-19 UNDP ● UNDP is procuring an additional 20 laboratory testing kits and a ventilator at approximately USD 42,000 ● Support to the National AIDS program to ensure multimonth dispensing of antiretroviral therapy is being implemented. COVID 19 Internation Situation Note - No. 01 | 3 Education UNICEF ● To reduce risk and provide appropriate response, UNICEF, along with the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, planned a meeting to review response plans to the threat of COVID 19. The meeting included the key participation of senior representation from UNICEF, PAHO/WHO, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and the Belize Red Cross. The discussion was focused on advocacy and preparation for students, teachers and families for school closure and continuity of learning. The meeting covered plans to implement the safe school operations guidance with managements and local partners. In response, managements and schools will develop context appropriate strategies for continuous learning that allow pupils, teachers, and schools to utilize flexible and remote/home-based learning, which may include homework assignments, reading material, radio, TV, online content and internet-based learning. ● UNICEF received $70,000USD this week to support the response. Nutrition UNICEF ● In collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health, UNICEF will provide funding to supply Incaparina, supplemented food used in Belize to prevent and treat undernutrition, to children who are part of the School Feeding Programme in Belize City, Dangriga, Rancho, Bermudian Landing, Flowers Bank, and Double Head. ● In partnership with the Ministry of Health, will provide funding for Incaparina to be delivered to children and pregnant women, and will contribute to information material to promote nutrition and hygiene for children and adults. In this way, will guide children and their caregivers around the country to practice hygiene to stop the spread of the virus and to include food that will provide children and their families stay healthy so they can better fight an infection. ● In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and INCAP, UNICEF supported further development and dissemination of information on safe breastfeeding. Materials with nutrition tips and hygiene were designed for children and adults and information of safe breastfeeding during COVID-19 UNICEF has agreed to provide funding to print flyers to promote healthy eating habits
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