‘It was like being inside a luxurious jail’

Buses of the Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority are used to transport individuals in quarantine from Kanoa Resort in Susupe to Pacific Islands Club Saipan in San Antonio. (COTA)

For one 19-year-old resident who just returned to the CNMI from the U.S. mainland and got snared in the mandatory 14-day quarantine requirement to ensure that they are not infected with the coronavirus, being made to go in isolation was not that bad.

“Honestly, it feels like a very luxurious jail,” the person said. “I spend most of my time admiring the beach and sunsets on my balcony.”

Although they were allowed to walk or jog around appointed boundaries of the Pacific Islands Club Saipan, where they stayed, she wishes that she could have fully enjoyed the ocean that’s in front of her, but she completely understands that this was for everyone’s sake in order to help “stop the spread.”

The returning resident, who agreed to speak with Saipan Tribune on the condition of anonymity, said that the Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force was very hospitable and went out of their way to make sure that their stay was as comfortable as possible.

Now that she’s out of quarantine, she’s most excited to see her family after a long time being away, seeing her little cousin, and getting the chance to watch sunsets on the beach itself.

Another returning resident, also 19, had a different experience. “After our transition from Kanoa Resort, it was a bit unorganized and I feel like the services at Kanoa were better than at PIC,” he said.

Unlike the other 19-year-old, he spent most of his time scrolling through social media and watching shows on his television to pass the time.

He’s most excited to finally sink his toes in the sand, and enjoy the water after a long time of being away from home. Additionally, he believes that once the world beats COVID-19, the CNMI will be able to go back to normalcy, maybe slowly but surely. “I feel like everything will go back to normal for sure, but like all other seasonal flu, it will infect thousands of lives until it reaches its peak, and only then will it start to die down,” he said.

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres ordered the mandatory 14-day quarantine for all returning residents who have travelled off-island to a state/country that has confirmed cases of the coronavirus, in a bid to stem the spread of the virus in the CNMI.

Another who is still in quarantine said that he’s been treated well above his expectations, knowing that he shouldn’t expect much interaction. He spends his time mostly catching up on homework and friends and family over social media with the WiFi that PIC has provided.

“I’m most excited to be back home with my family and friends and also having physical and social interaction, while also practicing social distancing,” he said. “I believe everything will go back to normal but it will take time. The CNMI is resilient. We’ve been through Typhoon Soudelor and Super Typhoon Yutu and that gives me hope as a fellow islander in this pandemic that everything will remain normal with time,” he said.

He does wonder if the many workers who have been been laid off will still be able to get their jobs back, if businesses will have the capacity to employ as many people as it did before, and if the education system will return to the way it was.

Zach (not his real name), 20, found his experience frightening because he was alone at the hotel and can’t see his family yet. “I arrived last week and am currently under quarantine and it’s pretty sad to not be able to be with my family. I feel scared as well because this is a real-life crisis and I just hope people would take this seriously.”

A man who has just arrived from the Philippines and has been in quarantine with his 43-year-old wife for a week and a half now, thinks the idea about being in quarantine is “good.” So far, he and his wife have shown no symptoms “but for everyone’s safety, it’s good that we’re here.” They felt scared at first because “we saw how many positive cases is rising in Guam right now,” but they are hopeful that they don’t have the virus.

Lisa (not her real name) 19, was sad because she couldn’t be with or see her family for two weeks but “I feel that this situation is necessary because even if I there are no symptoms showing I have the virus, for my family and friends’ safety, this will be manageable.”

Commonwealth Health Center staff regularly checked up on them and representatives of government agencies were also stationed at both Kanoa Resort and PIC Saipan to assist them should they need assistance. Additionally, two public health specialists would go door to door to take their temperatures and record it, followed by questions if they are having any symptoms and such.

Their boundaries didn’t extend toward the beach or the pools, so they can’t swim. They also can’t do their laundry in the hotel laundry rooms and don’t have access to recreational activities like the basketball court and such, but they completely understand that this is for the better.

“We practice social distancing by taking separate elevators to the first floor, and we have to maintain a 6-foot distance from each other at all times and we have authorities watching us as well,” said one.

“We got fed three times a day and the food was wonderful with reasonable proportions,” said the other. The procedure for food delivery from the staff at PIC is that they deliver the meals to the doors of those in quarantine, and then they can retrieve it when the delivery men are gone or nowhere near the doors.

They all agreed that there’s nothing wrong with how quarantine runs, and that they appreciate all the hard work and sacrifices that the staff at PIC, the COVID-19 Task Force, and first responders make for them.

They all emphasized that everyone should take this pandemic very seriously, that everyone should always washi their hands thoroughly, disinfect their devices, and keep to a healthy lifestyle since everyone needs their health “on top of the game.”

According to press secretary Kevin Bautista, medical professionals monitor those in quarantine for any symptoms within 14 days, including the last day. If a patient presents symptoms, then they’ll be re-evaluated and considered for isolation.

“So far, the system has been working smoothly,” he said. (With Krizel Tuazon)