Belmopan. August 3, 2021. 12:15 p.m.
The Ministry of Health & Wellness (MOHW), through its ongoing surveillance activities, updates the public that as of today a total of 18 employees from the James Bus Line (JBL) cluster have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Ministry of Health & Wellness, through the Toledo District health team, will continue to screen and provide additional tests to close contacts of these persons. The Toledo health team continues to advise all staff and members of JBL to stay in quarantine/isolation and follow all recommendations from MOHW.
The ministry has recommended that JBL review the services it is providing to the public and take a phased approach, using only staff that have tested negative and are not close contacts of a positive case. JBL must ensure that sanitization measures have been carried out on its bus fleet. The MOHW also recommends that employees be fully vaccinated and if not, they should be tested as outlined in Statutory Instrument No. 74 of 2021. Guidelines are:
1. Passengers must always wear a face mask properly;
2. James Bus Line must ensure constant sanitization of the bus fleet;
3. Maximum capacity of passengers must not exceed 50% and
4. James Bus Line must only provide a non-stop service at this time.
Persons who consider themselves at-risk and commuted via James Bus Line from July 28 to present and are presenting symptoms of fever, cough, difficulty breathing, and sore throat are advised to get tested at their nearest health facility. Management and employees of public bus terminals must ensure that their staff have been tested (Mango Creek, Belmopan, and Belize City).
The Ministry of Health & Wellness continues to advise the practice of key public health measures to prevent contracting COVID-19. Any new updates about this cluster will be provided in collaboration with JBL.
Ends
For more information, contact:
Dr. Franelda Gutierrez
Regional Health Manager
Southern Health Region
Toledo District
