1 passenger tests positive

A passenger from the May 28 United Airlines flight from Guam tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, raising the CNMI’s total confirmed cases from 26 to 27. Also, two patients have recovered, raising the total number of recoveries from 16 to 18.

According to a statement from the Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., the individual is a 58-year-old male who is asymptomatic, which means he has no symptoms. The individual is a returning resident and was placed under the mandatory quarantine when he arrived on island last May 28.

This was a result of the contact tracing when a 30-year-old female, who was asymptomatic, tested positive last June 2. The 30-year-old female and the 58-year-old male were both on the same flight. The 58-year-old male was identified for additional testing. His specimen was collected and confirmed positive at the CHCC laboratory yesterday.

“Our recent cases, identified through the arrival screening and quarantine process required for all incoming international passengers, highlights the value of this border containment effort. Combined with immediate contact tracing, these interventions are key in minimizing the spread of exposure for COVID-19 to the community,” said the task force statement.

The CNMI Community Vulnerability Level remains at Yellow. This is because, despite these additional COVID-19 cases, there have been a greater number of negative results, according to the COVID-19 Task Force and CHCC.

“We would like to encourage the community to continue to be cautious while in public settings. You can reduce your chances of being infected or spreading COVID-19 through the precautionary measures,” said the task force statement.

At the same time that the additional case popped up, two more individuals have recovered from the virus.

The news of the additional positive result comes on the heels of three new people testing positive for the coronavirus last Thursday. A 39-year-old woman tested positive through the community-based testing at Saipan airport and it remains unknown how she contracted the virus. In the afternoon of the same day, a 56-year-old woman and a 15-year-old female also tested positive for the coronavirus. Both were passengers on a United Airlines flight from Guam on May 30 that originated from the U.S. mainland. All three cases are asymptomatic and are being monitored in isolation at the Kanoa Resort Alternative Care Site.

The CNMI now has a total of 27 cases of COVID-19, including seven active cases, 18 recoveries, and two deaths since March 28.

COVID-19 in Guam

The Department of Public Health and Social Services tested 89 individuals for COVID-19 last June 6. Zero tested positive and 89 tested negative.

According to the Joint Information Center in Guam, results also include 70 samples from COVID-19 drive-thruh testing held at the Sinajana Mayor’s Office last June 5.

To date, Guam has 179 confirmed cases, with five deaths, 162 released from isolation, and 12 active cases.