20-plus in quarantine at PIC

With United Airlines resuming its Guam-Saipan flights last May 2, that also means the resumption of the mandatory quarantine of arriving passengers at the Pacific Islands Club Saipan in San Antonio.

Some 20-plus passengers aboard the Guam to Saipan flight were escorted by the Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority to PIC, the designated quarantine site, last Saturday.

Esther Muña, chief executive officer of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., confirmed that a total of 27 passengers were brought to PIC. These passengers will undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine that was authorized by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres last March 23 to help prevent the spread of coronavirus in the CNMI. There was no further information if the 27 passengers were returning residents or tourists.

To date, there have been 264 persons who have been released from quarantine at either PIC or the other designated site, Kanoa Resort.

More medical supplies

Gerald Deleon Guerrero, special assistant for the Homeland Security and Emergency Management, announced via a livestream video on Facebook over the weekend, that another round of personal protective equipment arrived at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport last May 1. The PPEs include N95 masks and gloves for COVID-19 response teams.

“These PPEs will go a long way for our doctors and first responders,” said Deleon Guerrero.

In the face of the global shortage in PPEs, Deleon Guerrero gave credit to Torres, Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, and the Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force for acting fast with ordering all the PPEs and other equipment that will help doctors, nurses, and first responders prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the CNMI.

COVID-19 in Guam

The Department of Public Health and Social Services tested 169 individuals for COVID-19 on May 2. Two tested positive and 167 tested negative.

According to the Joint Information Center in Guam, the results include samples from clinics, hospitals, the quarantine facility, and samples from the COVID-19 expanded testing at the Agat Senior Center and the Hemlani Apartments in Harmon.

DPHSS has targeted areas where infection may occur due to lack of access to health care, and densely populated apartment complexes.

The DPHSS overall count also includes probable cases of COVID-19 and confirmed positive cases tested by the Naval Health Research Center in San Diego, California, U.S. Naval Hospital Guam, Guam Memorial Hospital Authority, Guam Regional Medical City, Guam National Guard, and Diagnostic Laboratory Services.

To date, Guam has a total of 148 confirmed positive cases, with five deaths and 131 recoveries.