5 more positive cases

Five more individuals have been confirmed positive for COVID-19 in the CNMI, with one identified through travel testing and four confirmed through surveillance testing on Nov. 13, according to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. Sunday night. These new cases bring the CNMI’s total to 389. All five have since been isolated and are being actively monitored.

CHCC also announced that, as of Nov. 14, there are 49 active cases.

Since Oct. 28, there have been 98 new cases. Of the 98, 71 were identified through contact tracing, 18 through community-based testing, and nine through travel testing.

In Guam, the Joint Information Center was notified of two COVID-19-related fatalities, on top of 29 new cases

Also, two COVID-19 positive patients whose deaths were previously reported as COVID-19-related fatalities on Sept. 30, 2021 and Oct. 12, 2021, were subsequently found not to be the result of COVID-19. Guam’s Department of Public Health and Social Service Office of Epidemiology and Research has revised the COVID-19-related fatality count to remain at 258. 

In related news, during a guest appearance on Gov. Ralph DLG Torres’ weekly news briefing on the radio, CHCC chief executive officer Esther Muña said she and the CNMI’s other health leaders have been in discussions regarding the CNMI’s recent increases in community transmissions.

Muña said the community is “armed to fight this” and added that the one previous active hospitalization was a person who was actually put on “observation status.” Since Nov. 12, there have been no active hospitalizations.

“We are actively engaging in conversations regarding our current state and how to transition from here. While we indeed have cases rising, we are seeing that this community [is] armed to fight this, and that is a major factor to consider,” said Muña. “The one current hospitalization [reported on Nov. 11] is actually on observation status. So [far] we are seeing asymptomatic, symptomatic with mild symptoms, and symptoms that can be treated with COVID-19 treatment.”

In the latest fatalities in Guam, the 257th COVID-19-related fatality occurred at the Guam Memorial Hospital on Nov. 13, 2021. The patient was a 27-year-old female, unvaccinated with underlying health conditions. She was a known COVID-19 positive patient.

The 258th COVID-19-related fatality occurred at the Guam Regional Medical City on Nov. 13, 2021. The patient was an 83-year-old female, unvaccinated with underlying health conditions. She tested positive on Oct. 24, 2021.

“More families are experiencing pain and sadness as a result of this virus, and to you, [first gentleman] Jeff [Cook], [Lt. Gov.] Josh [Tenorio], and I extend our thoughts and prayers,” said Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero in the JIC statement. “While too many have suffered tremendous grief, you do not have to grieve alone. United as an island community, we remember those we have lost and work together to prevent more days of sadness like today.”

 
COVID-19-related Fatalities Adjusted

MD: 5 more positives

KW: saipan, cnmi, chcc, covid