Essential worker tests positive

After being released for self-quarantine and approved for “Critical Essential Work” status, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. made public last Dec. 22 that one out of two individuals tested positive for COVID-19 on fifth-day testing is a CHCC personnel.

As for the second individual, he or she was identified by travel screening and was transported to the government facility. The two positive tests raise the CNMI’s cumulative total to 118.

According to a statement from CHCC, the individual was recently on official travel as a medical escort for severely and critically ill patients from Saipan to Hawaii, and the U.S. mainland.

The CHCC personnel is asymptomatic, meaning that they were not experiencing symptoms. Also, CHCC stated that the virus “may have been” incubating, developing slowly without signs, while getting tested on the first day, but was not able to be detected. CHCC’s personnel was tested on the scheduled fifth-day testing and was then identified as a positive case and brought to the government facility which is the Kanoa Resort in Susupe.

The Contact Tracing Team was able to identify persons under investigation, or PUI, who were immediately identified as close contacts and were brought to Kanoa Resort for testing and monitoring. As of yesterday, test results have returned negative for COVID-19, but will be tested again before being released. Contact tracing for additional close contacts of the new confirmed case was conducted and is still being examined.

“As a healthcare worker en route from escorting several patients, the individual was approved for ‘Critical Essential Work’ status upon entry into the CNMI, and was tested on arrival. Upon receiving a negative test result for COVID-19, the individual was released for self-quarantine under stringent monitoring by the Contact Tracing Team,” said CHCC. This means that CHCC’s personnel was able to avoid the five-day mandatory quarantine, and was told to self-quarantine under strict monitoring.

Furthermore, CHCC stated that the CTT protocols include daily and regular monitoring for individuals categorized as a critical essential worker. This includes constant and regular physical check-in of the individual at their place of employment and residence,10 to 20 check-ins via phone including after hours. These steps are also implemented for all essential workers, CHCC staff or not.

CHCC added that no traveler is exempted from quarantine. The duration and length of quarantined are based on the traveler’s information, strength of justification, and assessment of the critical nature of work.

An approved essential worker can avail to self-quarantine if they have tested negative for COVID-19 upon arrival. If self-quarantined, the approved essential worker should be at their own place with limited movement and barred from attending any unnecessary congregation.

Rumors shut down

Speculations that the CHCC personal was out a bar with friends last Friday were shut down by Far East Trading Co. Safehouse. In a statement by Safehouse, the company said that they have staff at the front door who monitors each customer, ensuring that they are signed in and have their temperature checked.

Customers at Safehouse are provided tamper-proof wrist bands that allow staff to identify that all customers have been through the screening at the front door. Safehouse confirmed that they have gone through sign-in sheets and video recordings from Dec. 19 and 20, and the person in question was not present at their bar.

“Like any rumor, make sure you have a source for your information before spreading it. As the information you spread might do more harm than help,” said Safehouse.