Statutory Instrument 15 of 2022

SI-15, Public Health (Prevention of the Spread of Infectious Disease) (COVID-19) Regulations, 2022. 16 Jan 2022.

Source: GOB Press Office

Amended by SI-22 of 2022

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Title Pages for SI 15

Arrangement of Regulations

Title Page for SI 22 (Amendments)

Arrangement of Regulations

SI-15 Pg 1

Regulations Gazetted 14th January 2022
Part I. Preliminary

1. Citation

SI-15 Pg 2

2. Interpretation
These are definitions for: Act, airport, approved facility, approved hotel or tourist accomodation, BPO, COVID-109, Belize Tourism Board, Designated Officer, Enforcement Unit, essential business, essential service, essential worker.

SI-22

amends SI-15 to include a definition for app.

SI-15 Pg 3

Definitions, continued:
foreign home owner, foreign tourist, frontline workers.

SI-15 Pg 4

Definitions, continued:
hotel or tourist accomodation, immunized, immunization, minor, open air restaurant, outdoor restaurant, al fresco dining restaurant, permanent resident, proof of immunization.

SI-15 Pg 5

Definitions, continued:
proprietor, PCR test, public transportation, public utility, Qualified Retired Person, Quarantine Authority, rapid test, social distancing.

3. Application
Regulations apply to the whole country of Belize.

Part II, Protocols

4. Curfew
Begins on this page.

SI-15 Pg 6

Curfew dates and hours. Exceptions to curfew. Violations.

SI-22

amends SI-15 to extend the curfew to 6 Mar 2022.

SI-15 Pg 7

5. Wearing of face masks.
Ages, when masks must be worn, types of masks. Exceptions to wearing masks. Owner/manager responsibilities.

SI-15 Pg 8

More masking responsibilities and violations.

6. Social distancing, etc.
See the definition on SI-15 pg 5.

7. Entry into government offices, etc.
Requires showing proof of immunization.

SI-15 Pg 9

Exceptions and special circumstances for entry without proof of immunization.

SI-15 Pg 10

More conditions and exceptions and violations of proof of immunization.

8. Approved testing institutions and testing kits. Schedule III.

SI-15 Pg 11

Procedures for COVID testing, for those conducting and those taking tests.

9. Restrictions of gatherings for social purposes.
Restrictions to gatherings for social purposes. Essentially applies to more than 10 who are not of the same household.

SI-15 Pg 12

Committing an offence regarding gathering for social purposes.

11. Restriction on social activities.
Private gatherings, weddings, banquet, etc.

SI-15 Pg 13

More about social activities. Recreational or competitive sporting events.

SI-15 Pg 14

Penalty for offence of social activities.

12. Social distancing protocols and other requirements for businesses and offices.
Social distancing protocols, face masks. Distancing for businesses.

SI-15 Pg 15

Peace Officers required for some businesses. About Peace Officers. BPOs.

SI-15 Pg 16

More about BPOs.

SI-15 Pg 17

Reporting requirements.

13. Redeployment of frontline workers.

14. Tour operators and tour guides to present immunization card.

15. Exercising and sports. Social distancing.

SI-15 Pg 18

Those participating in non-contact sports do not need social distancing or masks.

If participating in contact sports you must be immunized.

16. Closure of bars, rum shops, etc.

17. Casinos and other gaming establishments. Employees and patrons must be immunized.

SI-15 Pg 19

Casino social distancing and masks required. Maximum 50% capacity. Other requiremens.

SI-15 Pg 20

More requirements for casinos, including Peace Officers.

SI-15 Pg 21

18. Restriction on gymnasiums.

Ventilation, appointment only, 50% capacity, social distancing. Face masks required unless exercising.

SI-15 Pg 22

19. Churches and other places of worship. Services no longer than 1 hour, 50% building capacity. Attendees must wear masks, unless conducting the service or sermon.

20. Restriction on spas, beauty salons and barber shops.

SI-15 Pg 23

Services by appointment only. Usually a aximum two customers, the one being attended to and the one waiting. Only the one being attended if there is not enough square footage. If large square footage, a number of customers proportionate to the square footage is OK.

21. Restriction on restaurants, saloons, diners, etc. and street food vendors. Employees must be immunized. Street vendors may operate.

SI-15 Pg 24

Street food vendors must place distance markers. Dining-in facilities by reservation only, for a maximum of 50% capacity. If proper ventilation or open air/outdoor, still by reservation but 75% capacity. Social distancing for all. Eating establishments must employ a Peace Officer.

SI-15 Pg 25

22. Opening of the Corozal Free Zone. Temperature of those entering the Free Zone must be taken and recorded. All MoHW guidelines must be followed.

23. Schools. Schools that satisfy appropriate MoHW checklists may open for face to face education. Others may only operate online.

24. Employers to implement a shift system. Unless an essential business, employers must use a shift system.

25. Operating remotely. Unless an essential business, employees must be allowed to operate remotely when possible.

SI-15 Pg 26

More about working remotely.

26. Transportation. Those using public or private transportation must wear a face mask.

SI-15 Pg 27

Seating for public or private transportation is limited to 75% of seating capacity. Hand sanitizer must be available. Social distancing queue for public transportation. Other requirements.

SI-15 Pg 28

More on transportation.

Part III, Entry through the airport

27. Requirements for foreign tourist prior to arrival.

Book stay at approved hotel, make arrangements for transportation approved by the BTB.

SI-15 Pg 29

Documentation required.

28. Testing requirements. Everyone entering Belize throught the airport must be tested by MoHW unless they have a negative PCR test within the last 96 hours, or another approved test within 48 hours before arrival. Arriving from certain countries require mandatory quarantine for 10 days.

SI-15 Pg 30

Those under 5 do not require testing. Anyone who does not comply with these regulations will be required to return to their port of origin as soon as possible. If unable to be immediately returned, they will be placed in mandatory quarantine at a government designated facility.

SI-15 Pg 31

29. Quarantine. Anyone testing positive will be quarantined at a government facility until released by an approved health professional. Penalties for failure to comply.

30. Compliance with health and safety protocols.

SI-15 Pg 32

Follow protocols including face mask and social distancing, or you will be issued a violation ticket.

31. Fees for testing. Paid by the person entering.

32. Offence and penalty. Up to a fine of $5,000 and/or imprisonment for 6 months. If not a Belizean or Permanent Resident, you may be expelled from Belize at your own expense.

33. Recovery by civil proceedings. To pay for PCR or other testing.

SI-15 Pg 33

Part IV, Entry through land and sea ports

34. Closure of land and sea ports. Except for cargo shipments, emergency medical travel approved by the MoHW, or persons returning under regulations 35 and 36.

35. Entry of persons returning to Belize at any land or sea port. Certain categories involving medical care, assisting MoHW, students.

SI-22

repeals regulation 34 and substitutes:

34. Opening hours of land and sea ports.
On 7 Feb 2022 every land port shall be open from 6am to 10pm, and every sea port shall be open from 6am to 4pm.

also repeals regulation 35 and substitutes:

35. Entry of persons through any land port or sea port.
Every person other than a foreign tourist entering through any land or sea port shall submit to testing for COVID.

SI-15 Pg 34

Also a returning Belizean national or Permanent Resident, diplomat, holder of a work permit, emergency technician, or business person with investments in Belize. Quarantine or self-quarantine.

36. Permission to enter Belize through land or sea port. Get permission from nearest consulate or embassy.

37. Offence and penalty for entering or exiting Belize contrary to regulation 34. Penalty of mandatory quarantine and 3 months imprisonment.

SI-22

repeals Regulation 36 and substitutes:

36. Exit of persons through any land or sea port.
Any person exiting Belize through any land or sea port shall present proof of immunization, using an App or immunization card. Details. Continued on next page of SI-22.

SI-22

repeals the chapeau to regulation 37 and substitutes:

37. Offence and penalty for entering or exiting Belize contrary to this Part.
“Every person entering or exiting Belize contrary to this Part commits an offence and is liable to—”

SI-15 Pg 35

Second or subsequent offence is imprisonment for one year. Quarantine requirements.

38. Procedure on arrest and charge of persons entering or exiting Belize illegally. Details of arrest and charge.

SI-22

amends regulation 38 (1) by deleting the words “regulation 35” and substituting “this Part”.

SI-15 Pg 36

Details of arrest and charge, continued.

39. Approval for importation of tests and approval to conduct testing. Apply to the MoHW. Details. Offence.

SI-15 Pg 37

40. Mandatory quarantine. Anyone testing positive or who develops flu-like symptoms and suspects they are infected with COVID must inform the MoHW. Details of quarantine.

SI-15 Pg 38

Part V, Entry of foreign tourists through land ports

41. Entry of foreign tourists at Santa Elena and Belize Western Borders. Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm; and Saturday & Sunday, 8am-12noon.

42. Testing requirements. Foreign tourists must submit to testing. Any arriving from certain countries will be placed in mandatory testing for 10 days, when after a negative test they may be released. Compliance details.

SI-22

repeals regulation 41 and substitutes:

41. Entry of foreign tourists through land and sea ports.
For foreign tourists, sea ports are open 6am to 4pm, and land ports 6am to 10pm. Beginning 15 Feb 2022, foreign tourists arriving via the airport or ports must purchase travel insurance proscribed by Belize Tourism Board.

SI-22

Exceptions to the requirement to purchase insurance.

SI-15 Pg 39

More compliance details.

43. Procedure on testing positive for COVID-19. A foreign tourist may be denied entry or placed in mandatory quarantine at their own expense, until released by approved health professional. Offence info.

SI-15 Pg 40

More offence info.

44. Requirement to complete health declaration form.
Foreign tourists must comply.

45. Compliance with health and safety protocols.
This includes a face mask and social distancing protocols. Offence info.

SI-15 Pg 41

46. Cost for testing.
Foreign tourists must pay.

47. Offence and penalty.
Up to $5,000 and/or 6 months imprisonment.

48. Recovery by civil proceedings.
Costs may be recovered by civil proceedings.

Part IV, Offences and penalties

49. Offences in relation to mandatory quarantine.
Details including mandatory quarantine and fine of $1,000.

SI-15 Pg 42

For second or subsequent offence, mandatory quarantine and one year imprisonment.

50. Offence of creating or being in possession of fake immunization card.

51. Penalty for employers and employees.
Fine of $5,000. For second or subsequent offence, also closure of that business or establishment for 7 days. Fine of $200 for an employee who contravenes regulation 5 or 12.

52. General offence and penalty.
Inciting others to convene these regulations. If no specific penalty provided, then a fine of $5,000 or imprisonment for 2 years.

SI-15 Pg 43

More penalty.

Part VII, Violation Tickets

53. Issue of violation ticket.
These may be issued by a Police Officer to any offences of regulations 4, 5, 6, 7, 15, 19, 26, 30 or 45. Refusal gets a fine up to $1,000.

54. Form of violation ticket. Schedule IV.
Prepared in duplicate. Managed by the Belize Police Department.

55. Fine to be paid.
Fine of $500.

56. Time for payment of fine.
Within 15 calendar days. $10 more per day up to 30 days from issuance.

SI-15 Pg 44