About $22M spent so far on quarantine sites—GAR

As of June 30, 2021, $22.1 million has already been spent on the CNMI government’s operation of COVID-19 quarantine sites, with $13.4 million spent on rooms and $2.3 million spent on meals for quarantined individuals, and $6.4 million for other services.

The funding sources that are being used for these costs covering the period from March 2020 up to June this year are $17.5 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and $4.6 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, funding.

Patrick Guerrero, who is the governor’s authorized representative, said the quarantine site contracts are all on a “room-utilized basis,” and that, for bigger sites such as Kanoa Resort and the former Mariana Resort & Spa Saipan, the contracts go on 90-day increments. For the smaller-scale and temporary sites, such as Century Hotel and Capital Hotel in Garapan, the contracts are shorter—between one to two weeks.

“All these contracts are all on a room-utilized basis. We pay for whatever rooms we use and whatever meals are provided,” said Guerrero. He added that these incremental renewable contracts are “common practice with federal programs” and that all these contracts include termination clauses that would allow the CNMI government to not renew contracts, with ample notice, if needed.

Guerrero noted that, with the changes to quarantine for domestic travelers effective Nov. 19, fewer rooms may be needed. Effective Nov. 19 fully vaccinated incoming travelers with proof of a fully vaccinated household will no longer need to quarantine.

“We do anticipate that we’re going to need [fewer] rooms as we’re going to be releasing vaccinated travelers,” said Guerrero. He projected that in two to three weeks’ time the primary quarantine sites will transition to just Kanoa Resort and the former Mariana Resort & Spa.

When asked what are currently active quarantine sites on Saipan, Guerrero said last week that the Kanoa Resort, the former Marianas Resort, and Pacific Islands Club Saipan sites are active.

Saipan Tribune earlier reported that Capital Hotel and Century Hotel, which are both in Garapan, were identified as temporary isolation sites.

Guerrero said last week that Century’s contract is tied to Kanoa’s. In the case of overflow at Kanoa, Century will be activated.