Corozal Free Zone closes two more stores after COVID-19 testing on Friday, operating at 98.5% with all stores open except one

Published by BBNTEAM at January 14, 2022

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Posted: Friday, January 14, 2022. 5:52 pm CST.

Photo Credit: Corozal Free Zone

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The Corozal Free Zone closed two more stores after COVID-19 testing on Friday, according to Chief Executive Officer Neri Ramirez.

“We have three stores closed out of the 200, so we are operating at 98.5%,” said Ramirez.

One store had been closed on Wednesday after the first round of testing and two more today after nearly 300 persons more were tested.

“296 persons were tested and out of that 42 were found positive,” said Ramirez.

“This is equivalent to 14% of the tested results today.”

Added to the total from Wednesday when 173 out of 1002 tested positive, the CFZ now has 215 positive cases out of 1,298. That represents 16.56%.

Ramirez said that all the persons who were positive today were asymptomatic and the great majority on Wednesday were also asymptomatic.

Ramirez was tested and his results were negative.

While the CFZ has 215 positive cases from the testing done on Wednesday and Friday, Ramirez said there are other positive cases as the remaining 200 employees opted to get tested at other testing sites.

“I have been informed and sent pictures of additional results being taken in Corozal, Orange Walk, and private clinics. Some of the investors and employees took the initiative to go to other sites that were easier to access and will present their results tomorrow (Saturday) at the gate of the Corozal Free Zone.”

Ramirez reiterated that all the workers have been fully vaccinated and with 159 persons who received COVID-19 vaccine boosters today, that number now stands at 781 which represents more than 50% of all workers.

Ramirez said that on Saturday, every single employee and investor going to the Zone to work tomorrow should present their results to the securities at the gate.

“Once the results are negative, they will be allowed to come into the Corozal Free Zone,” Ramirez said.

Saturdays and Sundays are the busiest days at the Zone, so everyone who has tested negative is expected to show up to work.

“To make sure that we get every single person that works in the Corozal Free Zone tested, that is the reason we are going to implement strict orders at the entrance. If they don’t have any results they will not be allowed and they will be asked to take a test in Corozal, either a private clinic or any other location before they can enter the Corozal Free Zone.”

As to the stores that have been closed, they will reopen once the workers are no longer infected.

“They cannot continue operating the stores because the majority were positive, so the stores were ordered to close. They will open until they present PCR tests that are negative and they sanitize the stores,” Ramirez said.

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