25 quarantined at Kanoa Resort

A total of 25 individuals who recently arrived on Saipan from off-island are currently undergoing the 14-day mandatory quarantine at Kanoa Resort in Susupe.

“The governor’s COVID-19 Task Force has been diligently working with both airline partners and travelers to ensure the safety of both the travelers and our community from COVID-19,” said press secretary Kevin Bautista.

He said all 25 “guests” at Kanoa Resort are being fed three meals a day, monitored for symptoms through the Commonwealth Health Care Corp.’s text illness monitoring system and medical professionals, while also ensuring that their privacy is respected.

Saipan Tribune learned that tenants are being “screened” every day for 30 minutes before and after their recreation time—an activity that is often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure, and are considered to be fun. Screening involved a temperature check.

Additionally, their rooms have been wiped and sanitized, leaving just a bed, a television, and other furniture that can’t be removed due to them being attached to the wall.

In addition, food deliveries and gifts from family members and others of the tenants are being honored, but they cannot have any physical contact with tenants.

“These protective measures are important to prevent the spread of COVID-19 into the CNMI,” said Bautista.

The first isolation area identified by the governor’s COVID-19 Task Force and CHCC was Century Hotel in Garapan.

According to Esther Muñna, CHCC chief executive officer, governments all over the world, especially in the U.S., turn to hotels as facilities they can use to isolate those who may be infected by the virus to avoid overcrowding hospitals. This is also ideal for health care workers to focus on people who need immediate care.

According to Pacific Daily News, Linda DeNorcey, Guam Public Health and Social Services director, out of the 32 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Guam, there are 21 people who are in stable condition and recovering at home while 10 are hospitalized.

Of the patients who are hospitalized, eight are at the Guam Memorial Hospital, one of whom is in the intensive care unit, and two patients are at the Skilled Nursing Unit of GMH.

Guam saw its first death from COVID-19 complications last March 22.

Of Guam’s COVID-19 cases, six patients have travelled to the Philippines, one has travelled to Japan, one has travelled to the United States, and 24 have no travel history.