The fifth COVID-19 related death has been recorded in Belize. This time, on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, a 72-year-old woman of the Stann Creek District reportedly passed away after being infected with COVID-19. Iris Barillas was a resident of Hope Creek Village and was intubated at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) since last week after being transported from the Western Regional Hospital (WRH). Not much has been revealed apart from the fact that at least four other family members of Barillas have also tested positive for the disease.
The death of the 72-year-old follows two more recent deaths, those of Carlos Peralta and Luis Romero Sr. which took place on August 17 and August 14, respectively. Peralta was a resident of the Orange Walk District who died of a heart condition, seemingly compounded by COVID-19. It was not known that he had the disease until after his death when a test was done posthumously. Romero, 52, also passed from the disease and his death has caused widespread frustration and alarm. According to his family, they had requested that he be tested for the disease being that his son tested positive but never got the attention they sought. He had reportedly began exhibiting signs and symptoms of COVID-19 but according to his family, the Ministry of Health (MOH) only recommended that they continue to give him medication.
These incidents continue to raise alarm for the general population and a number of people have come forward to express their dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Health (MOH). According to quite a number of people, they have attempted to contact the MOH to get tested but have not been able to get through or given the run around. Dr. Marvin Manzanero explained on Tuesday that the Ministry of Health will not be doing blanket testing. Only persons who present symptoms will be tested. This is following worldwide standards of how the disease is being managed.
