By Jem Smith
While the numbers of COVID-19 cases across the country continues to rise, there are also increases in the number of infections in schools, particularly in the Belize District. A number of schools have released statements informing the public of infections in students and teachers. This has become of a greater concern as schools reopen in phases for face-to-face learning instead of distance learning which has been taking place over the past year. Now, the health and safety of students, teachers, and the wider community is at risk with these positive results in schools. For now, there aren’t any vaccines available for students and as a result the onus is on teachers to become vaccinated.
Minister of Health and Wellness, Michel Chebat, says that while children can be carriers of the disease, “teachers must get vaccinated.” The percentage of teachers who have already been inoculated is disturbingly low. Furthermore, the risk does not only apply to teachers and students, but to their families which often times include older and more vulnerable people. MOHW says that as a result teachers who interact with these students on the frontline must be vaccinated before classes can safely resume.
