❤️ Our Bay Islands
Still ZERO cases of confirmed COVID-19 in the Bay Islands! (23 negative tests. 1 pending from Roatan, 1 pending from Santa Guardiola)
Please keep in mind we need to remain vigilant. We know little about the virus except that it is highly contagious and we cannot let our guard down. Help us keep you and the rest of our island healthy. STAY AT HOME.
If you suspect you are having symptoms of COVID-19, please call (+504 8820-2444 a local Roatan contact). They will go to your house, take samples, and send them out for testing. They do reserve the right to not test based on questionnaires evaluating your symptoms.
STAY HOME! Be vigilant! We are still in a
STATE OF EMERGENCY.
STATE OF EMERGENCY:
Every day things change. Yesterday, after our live video, the Central Government issued a communication banning take-out and delivery services. Pulperias and Mini-marts can follow their same schedule but supermarkets, banks, pharmacies and gas stations must restrict to Monday, Wednesday and Friday and only by ID number assigned for that day. They are currently analyzing what strict biosecurity measures will be required to allow for deliveries to resume.
If on your designated day, you need transport to the supermarket, bank or pharmacy, you can hire a private taxi (maximum of 2 customers). If it is your designated day, you can join a friend in their car to do your errands (but only if it is also their designated day). Maximum of 2 people in a personal car.
Today, in collaboration with the Health Department, Roatan Public Hospital, Dr. Coleman, Dr. Zuniga, and Dr. Sanchez, we took inventory of the medical supplies and PPEs currently available on island (after having received our recent PPE donation from San Pedro Sula private sector). A request for more equipment was sent to the Central government based on a worst-case scenario: the event that we do have COVID-19 cases in the Bay Islands. Our intention is to be well prepared. Thank you, doctors, for your support.
We thank Fernando Garcia, the owner of Fresh Bakery, for the delicious baked goods he generously donated to the staff (doctors, nurses and other health professionals) of the Roatan Public Hospital and the Health Department.
Thank you, Etienne Byrd, owner of La Placita Hotel in West Bay, who organized a food drive today in Brass Hill.
Don Luis - The Roatan Inventor - is working on a home ventilator design. Tomorrow is the final test of the prototype. If it works, it could potentially be used as back up in case we can’t get official ventilators.
If someone in Utila gets sick or injured, we need to address it on a case by case basis. They will more likely be evacuated to the mainland, as they are better equipped to address most medical needs.
PROTECTING OUR BORDERS:
The RMP and Community Watch Patrols protecting our water borders are important. In Utila, please coordinate with Junior Williams. In Roatan, please coordinate with RMP and your community.
Last night, a Colombian sailboat tried to enter Utila waters. Thanks to Miss Alice Hill, the navy and all who were able to address this issue. Please don’t forget, we are in the middle of the sailers/cruisers paths. It is normal for them to want to pull in to our Bay Islands. Let us see if they are in need of assistance. If we can address their needs while keeping them at a distance, this should be our goal. However, our borders remain closed.
HOW TO HELP:
Donate at https://themakeitcountfoundation.org/ Every dollar counts. The more funds we have, the more food we can buy, the more medical supplies we can buy, the more people we can help.
Today’s update of total funds raised is US $110,888.00. We are grateful to all who have donated, please find your names listed on their website. You have our word that we will be transparent with these funds and they will be put to good use. Please remember, our anonymous donor of $100,000 challenged us to find another donor to match or exceed his donation. Let’s spread the word and see if we can meet that challenge.
Consider asking your company if they do matching funds for your donations (e.g. Microsoft, Chevron, Pepsico, and many large and medium corporations).
You can also donate to support other efforts around the island including
SOL International Foundation food drive with Nidia Webster and
Roatan Because We Care, the
Chamber of Tourism,
Rotary Club,
Roatan Marine Park (will be needing fuel for patrolling our borders), and all of the other great foundations that you know here on the island working hard to help us recover.
Donate dry goods to the
COPECO food drive and Nidia Webster’s food drive.
If you have not received food assistance or have faced discrimination during any of the food drives organized by the government, please provide detailed information and photographs if possible. Aid is meant for everyone in need (i.e. have lost their job and are not working) regardless they are from the Bay Islands or originally from the mainland.
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE:
Honduras National Congress met today and they are working on a nationwide program to alleviate the financial burden we will be facing during the months to come.
TRAVEL:
The international flight departing to Germany from San Pedro Sula left today. Persons from the Bay Islands traveled to San Pedro Sula to board that flight. We wish them safe travels back home.
The airport is closed now. If you need to change flights, etc. please contact the airlines themselves (CM Airlines 2290-1800 9522-5965).
Listen to your authorities. They are working hard to keep us COVID-19 free. Follow the rules.
COVID-19 BAY ISLANDS RESPONSE TEAM is working tirelessly to make sure everyone stays healthy and safe.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE! Dino would like you to meet everyone because this is a HUGE TEAM working amazingly well together. Meet the team on the governor’s FB pages. Trish Symons is today’s highlighted COVID-19 response team volunteer. The response team includes Congressman Ron McNab, Mayor Jerry Hynds, Mayor Carson Dilbert, Mayor Troy Bodden, Mayor Spurgeon Miller, the minister of health, COPECO, volunteers, local businesses, and other supportive organizations. This is an amazing effort to keep our community healthy and safe.
STAY HOME! Let's keep our Bay Islands to ZERO cases