BELMOPAN, Belize, CMC – Prime Minister John Briceño says he has made a full recovery from the coronavirus [COVID-19], even as other members of the ruling People’s United Party (PUP) were reported to have contracted the virus that has killed 148 and infected 5, 854. Briceño said that his last PCR test results were positive but doctors have declared him clinically recovered.
“Two weeks ago, as you all know, I was found to be positive with COVID-19. It is just like almost an impulse, I decided to go and check because I had no symptoms. It was found that I was positive and then I was in self-quarantine for two weeks.
“I stayed in my bedroom and followed all the strict protocols. I must tell you that my family and I had to follow the protocols. On Friday last, a doctor from the Ministry of Health went to do two things, give me the PCR test and also to clinically examine me. As I said, I had no symptoms. I had no fever, no headache, no pains, no diarrhoea, nothing. No loss of smell or taste.”
But he said after the test was administered “she then declared me clinically recovered, that I could have moved around…but my wife insisted that you are going to do your 14 days.
“I stayed until Sunday so today is the first time that I am really out and I am here back to work. I must tell you that my PCR came back and it is still positive. But when I talk to the doctors, and as we all know the CDC and all in Europe, they are saying once you pass that period where you are infectious, once you pass that period, you can continue with your life.”
Briceño said that while he is “free to move around, I will not get anybody sick.
“That is why I am out working but it is also important to wear your mask at all times. You never know who will have it. Ironically, it seems that I did not get the virus from the campaign. I thought if it was going to happen it was going to happen on election night. But it seems that I got it right here from this office,” he said.
The PUP, which won the general elections last month, also reported that some legislators including the Toledo East Area Representative Mike Espat and the Cayo West Area Representative Jorge “Milin” Espat have recovered from the virus, while Dolores Balderamos Garcia, the Area Representative for Belize Rural Central, is in self-isolation.
Briceño said that his Chief of Staff and Cabinet Secretary, Stuart Leslie, has also been declared clinically recovered, so too has the chief executive officer in the Prime Minister’s Office, Narda Garcia.
