April 3, 2020

Clock Ticks For Belizeans Abroad As PM Orders Border Closure

By Newsroom

Effective 12:01a.m. on Sunday, April 5th, Belize will close its borders to nationals who are currently abroad. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Dean Barrow on Friday afternoon, essentially giving nationals who want to return home an estimated 36 hours to do so.

 

It is the latest restriction policy to be implemented as the country recorded four cases of COVID-19. Prior to Friday’s announcement, returning nationals were subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine. Although he admitted the decision was “extreme”, Prime Minister Barrow said given their first two cases were imported from L.A. and New York, “Belizeans that have been in the U.S. and Mexico simply returning to the country willy nilly, cannot be allowed to continue.”

Belize has been under a State of Emergency since April 1st. Prime Minister Barrow says the borders will remain closed for the duration of the SOE, which ends on April 30th.

Exemptions will be made for nationals who recently traveled abroad for medical attention or other emergency reasons.

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