1 more traveler tests positive

The CNMI’s COVID-19 cases rose to 125 yesterday with an additional individual confirmed positive for COVID-19, according to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.

CHCC said the individual was identified by travel screening and confirmed diagnosis through testing upon arrival. It added that the individual has been safely in quarantine and was moved to the designated isolation area at the Kanoa Resort Alternative Care Site for monitoring.

CHCC has already initiated contact tracing for the most immediate contacts of the new case, including passengers on the same flight.

Of the CNMI’s 125 COVID-19 cases, 99 were identified by travel screening while 26 were local transmissions. There are currently three persons in isolation. The CNMI has had no local transmission for the past 139 days.

COVID-19 vaccination update

On Dec. 19, 2020, CHCC and the Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force launched the first phase (1A) of COVID-19 vaccine distribution and continued with phase 1B on Dec. 29, 2020. As a result of the great turnout, CHCC has reached the cap of its vaccination openings for this week ahead of schedule. A total of 3,020 first dose COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered to the Saipan community.

As CHCC continues to execute the COVID-19 Vaccination Plan, the current focus for the week of Jan. 4-8, 2021, will be on persons who are bed-bound/homebound (under Phase 1A) due to health conditions specified by the Office of Aging. By doing so, there will be a temporary pause for Phase 1B of first dose COVID-19 vaccination until further notice.

In addition, second doses for the COVID-19 vaccine will be administered starting Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, and upon completion, Phase 1A of first dose COVID-19 vaccinations will proceed as planned. “Until we’ve achieved a substantial proportion of vaccinated individuals in group 1A, we will again open vaccination distribution to group 1B,” CHCC said. It said it will continue to monitor the vaccination distribution numbers. “In order to plan for each phase, we will need to monitor each preceding phase.”

CHCC reminds those who have scheduled vaccination appointments to not miss them. “It is very important that you make your appointment and receive the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.”

Researchers of the vaccines have determined that community-wide herd immunity is achieved when the level of protection increases dramatically, which is after receiving both doses.

COVID-19 in Guam

According to Guam’s Joint Information Center 17 new cases of COVID-19 were identified out of 501 tests performed by the Department of Public Health and Social Services last Sunday, Jan. 3, and tests from additional labs from Friday, Jan. 1, to Sunday, Jan. 3. Six cases were identified through contact tracing. Six cases reported recent travel history and were identified in quarantine.

To date, there have been a total of 7,344 officially reported cases of COVID-19 with 123 deaths, 132 cases in active isolation and 7,089 not in active isolation.