New entry and quarantine protocols

Effective today, Dec. 20, 2021, the CNMI will be implementing new entry protocols and new quarantine protocols, and will be opening the COVID-19 Community Center at the Koblerville Youth Center to serve the community of Saipan.

In a news release yesterday, it said the new quarantine protocols were effective immediately, while the new entry protocols will be effective today, Dec. 20, 2021.

The statement said the changes are being made considering that approximately 91.3% of the CNMI’s eligible population are now fully vaccinated, combined with the expansion of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster shot eligibility to 16- and 17-year-olds.

“The safety of the residents of the CNMI remains the top priority of the Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.

Under the new entry protocols, all fully vaccinated inbound travelers will be tested for COVID-19 on arrival starting today, Dec. 20, 2021. This applies to children ineligible for a COVID-19 vaccine but are residing in a fully vaccinated household.

Specimen collection will be conducted at the port of entry. While waiting for the results of their COVID-19 test, the traveler must quarantine at home or lodging until results are received.

In addition to being fully vaccinated, a qualified essential worker must submit a negative PCR test with their application 72 hours prior to arrival via www.staysafecnmi.com.

Unvaccinated travelers are required to quarantine in a designated government facility for seven days, and will be tested after the seven-day quarantine. Any traveler who tests positive for COVID-19 will be isolated in the designated government facility for an additional 10 days.

Travelers are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 if it has been:

2 weeks (14 days) after their dose of an accepted single-dose, or

2 weeks (14 days) after their second dose of an accepted 2-dose series

All travelers and residents are reminded to live COVID-19 safe: follow the 3 W’s (wear your mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance); avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces; cover coughs and sneezes; clean and disinfect high touch surfaces daily; be alert for symptoms daily; and get tested for COVID-19.

Fully vaccinated individuals are responsible for uploading onto their health declaration form proof of completing a COVID-19 vaccine series. The vaccination record must include the following information: vaccine administrator, recipient’s name, recipient’s date of birth, vaccination site, vaccine name, vaccination administration date, lot number, and vaccine expiration date.

For travelers vaccinated outside the CNMI, in addition to the CDC Vaccination Record Card, an official immunization record or an attestation statement may be required by the CHCC Communicable Disease Investigation/Inspection team. The attestation statement confirms that the information provided in the health declaration form is true and is subject to CNMI laws that may lead to criminal fines. For individuals who were vaccinated in the CNMI, vaccination records from the CHCC will be used to verify vaccination status.

All travelers are encouraged to fill out their health declaration form prior to arrival at www.staysafecnmi.com.

New home isolation protocols are available if an individual tests positive and is asymptomatic (showing no symptoms of COVID-19). Home isolation orders are given to the individual who can provide evidence that they can home isolate safely for 10 days, without putting others in the household at risk of infection. If it is determined that the individual cannot safely isolate at home (e.g., they live with a family member who has underlying health conditions or is immunocompromised), isolation at the designated government facility will be ordered or offered as an option.

If an individual tests positive and is symptomatic (showing signs of symptoms of COVID-19), then the individual is required to be in quarantine for 10 days at the designated government facility.

For individuals who are close contacts of confirmed positive cases, their COVID-19 vaccination status will be considered. After being identified as a close contact, fully vaccinated close contacts will be tested as soon as possible. They will not be ordered to quarantine of any kind, and must return for their fifth-day test. If their test returns positive for COVID-19, they will go through the process of being confirmed as a positive case.

Unvaccinated close contacts will be tested when identified, will be ordered to home quarantine, and must return for their fifth-day test. If their test returns positive for COVID-19, they will go through the process of being confirmed as a positive case.

For guidance on how to safely isolate or quarantine at home, download the latest version of the CNMI COVID-19 guidebook at www.staysafecnmi.com/livecovidsafe.

COVID-19 Community Center

Hard copies of the guidebook can also be obtained at the new COVID-19 Community Center located at the Koblerville Youth Center.

The CCC is a hub where individuals can obtain their COVID-19 results, get confirmatory testing done, get assessed for monoclonal antibody treatment, and obtain guidance on all COVID-19 matters, including what to do if they’re a close contact of a positive.

Confirmatory testing is testing done to confirm a positive result from a COVID-19 test done outside of the CHCC.

Individuals requesting test results from the community-based testing hosted at Pacific Islands Club Saipan may visit the COVID-19 Community Center for a printout or call the following numbers: (670) 785-9972, 785- 9973, 785-9970, 785-9968, 785-9966.

Individuals identified as positive cases and are seeking COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment can be assessed at the CCC, and may either receive the treatment at the CCC or be referred to the Alternative Care Site at Kanoa Resort.

The CCC will be open seven days a week including holidays, from 8am to 4pm.

COVID Care Teams

In addition, the Governor’s office will deploy COVID Care Teams to provide resources to the residents of Saipan, including but not limited to personal protective equipment (masks, hand sanitizer, gloves, etc.), food aid, and COVID-19 educational material. (PR)