Mass testing starts today

The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. and Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force conducted a dry run for COVID-19 testing drive-thru service at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport yesterday. (KRIZEL TUAZON)

Mass testing for COVID-19 starts today in the CNMI via drive-thru service at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport. The testing is free and is open to anyone.

It is also important to note that the testing is for those who wish to be tested and is not mandatory. This means testing is available for anyone who wants to be tested. A dry run was done at the airport yesterday.

The first batch of people to take part in the community testing are those who have registered through the COVID-19 Task Force and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. website.

“Having the ability to do the community-based testing is critical because you’re looking at individuals that are asymptomatic, but not coming to the [hospital] for health care services,” said CHCC chief executive officer Esther Muña at yesterday’s dry run.

Those who want to be tested have to first register online or via phone.

“It’s open to anyone, it’s free. … Register, show up, and we’ll get back to you with the results,” Muña said.

Anyone who wants to be tested must have a photo ID, for CHCC to know and ensure that “this is you, and you want to be tested,” Muña said. The ID does not have to be current, and can even be expired.

According to a CHCC statement, after submitting a request for testing, a representative from the CHCC Community Testing Call-Back team will contact you to verify your information, schedule a testing appointment, and provide a test number.

Testing process

According to Muña, the drive-thru testing will be limited to up to four individuals in a car.

“It’s limited to four in the car. And the reason for that is because we’re dealing with body fluids, so we want to make sure that for those in the right, front and back, we will test them. …You don’t want any middle seat, again because of their body fluid.”

Two to four nurses will be administering the tests on both sides of the car. The test is nasal pharyngeal, meaning it is done through the nose, with the nurse obtaining a swab sample. Only one nostril is needed for the test.

“For kids 3 years old or younger, since it’s uncomfortable, it’s up to the parents,” said a Commonwealth Health Center staff. “If the kid is showing COVID-19 symptoms, then they should get tested.”

As for results, Muña said that its release will depend on how many specimens CHCC can get.

“The…way [the system is set right now] is it can do about 96 [specimens]. We do a run about four times, which results to about less than 400 a day. The viability of specimens can last a few days,” she said.

When the community-based testing starts today, the results will be given as quickly as CHCC can, which can be in two days initially, and then be as quick as within four hours, once CHCC acquires additional support.

“Right now, we can say probably two days, tomorrow, even in four hours, because that’s how long it takes for the result,” Muña added. “The governor’s task force has gotten more equipment. So it’s about personnel, equipment to do the testing.” The U.S. Department of Defense is also supporting CHCC by sending a medical team that will help carry out the testing.

Lizzie, not her real name, thinks the idea of the drive-thru is a great idea since it seems easier and safer rather than waiting at the hospital to get tested. “I honestly thought that Saipan would be behind with all the precautionary measures, but the Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force and everyone included looks like they’ve been doing a fantastic job.”

What’s next?

Those who will test positive will be quarantined and will undergo treatment, while those who test negative will be asked to continue following the set COVID-19 directives.

“If you do come back negative, we want to make sure that we stress the continuation of social distancing and practicing what you’ve been doing, because it obviously was effective,” she added.

Aside from setting up the drive-thru testing, CHCC will also be going to Rota and Tinian. “We’ll be setting them up so that we can make sure that they have the viral transport media. We also need to make sure that they collect the [specimen], put it at the right temperature and send it over to us so that we can do the testing,” she said.

CHCC has tested its hospital workers and all results came back negative. In addition, the CNMI is expecting additional test kits and equipment in the next few weeks.

Register to get tested at http://chcc.gov.mp/covid19testing.php.

Those who wish to get tested but have no access to the internet can call the CHCC COVID-19 Infoline at (670) 285-1352/1542/1672/1854 between 7:30am and 8am. You must provide a valid phone number to schedule an appointment and to receive your test results.

COVID-19 in Guam

As of April 27, the U.S Naval Hospital Guam has reported an additional COVID-19 positive case. Guam now has 142 positive cases, with eight active, five deaths, and 128 recovered.

Additionally, Guam’s Department of Public Health and Social Services, in collaboration with the Guam’s government and federal and private partners, have expanded its COVID-19 testing via drive-thru and walk-in. Their testing is also free and residents must being an official ID card.