3 in quarantine, last active case for release

There are currently three nonresident passengers who are in quarantine at the Kanoa Resort in Susupe, while the last active case, who is also at Kanoa Resort, is expected to be released from isolation today.

These three passengers are paying for their time in quarantine, as well as for their testing, based on the new directive, according to Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force chair Warren Villagomez. Being put in quarantine after arriving on Saipan used to be at the expense of the CNMI government but that policy has been changed, starting last June 20. Now, all incoming passengers are placed in quarantine and are tested on the fifth day. Those who test negative are then released.

Meanwhile, Esther Muña, chief executive officer of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., said the last active COVID-19 case at the Kanoa Resort is stable and will be released today, July 3.

Village-based testing

Villagomez stated that both the COVID-19 Task Force and CHCC are in the final stages with the village-based testing, which includes deciding the processes that they will need to follow.

“We’re in the final stage, to actually come up and decide the approaches because we have other options that we’re also discussing with CHCC to better plan [this] out,” said Villagomez, adding that, once they have everything in place, and they’re ready to head out into the communities, CHCC and the task force want to make sure that everything’s ready for the testing.

Since schools will be reopening come August, CHCC and the task force need to be able to have a solid plan to make sure they have all the necessary parts of their plan to fully function.

Villagomez stated that efforts are still ongoing with clinics reaching out to people who are registered as homebound. This will be helpful for CHCC and the task force when it comes to testing those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19.

To date, the CNMI has 30 confirmed cases, with two deaths and no active cases.

COVID-19 in Guam

According to the Joint Information Center on Guam nine cases tested positive from Diagnostic Laboratory Services yesterday. Out of the nine cases at DLS, eight cases were household contacts to confirmed cases.

Additionally, the JIC reported last July 1 that four cases tested positive at the Department of Public Health and Social Service. Among the four cases confirmed by the Guam Public Health Laboratory, three were identified through community outreach and two cases reported household contact to confirmed cases.

To date, Guam has a total of 280 confirmed cases, with five deaths, 179 released from isolation, and 96 active cases. Out of the 280 confirmed cases, 234 are classified as civilians and 46 are military service members.