A look back and where are we now

MARCH 16
President Donald Trump declares a national emergency, opening access to up to $50 billion in emergency relief funds to stop spread of COVID-19 in the Unites States and its territories.
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres signs Executive Order 02-04 declaring the CNMI under State of Significant Emergency and a State of Public Health Emergency.

MARCH 24
All businesses are to operate or open facilities from 6am to 1pm and public to adhere to social distancing practices.

MARCH 26
First batch of 14 inbound passengers underwent 14-day mandatory quarantine at Kanoa Resort in Susupe.

MARCH 28
Grocery stores and retail establishments’ operating hours revised to 6am to 6pm and allowed at 50% capacity.

MARCH 30
Two test positive in the CNMI involving a 42-year-old male and a 49-year-old female.
First COVID19 death in the CNMI was a 70-year-old man who was in quarantine at Kanoa Resort.
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres orders a 7pm curfew for everybody.

APRIL 6
Beaches and pathways, docks and ramps are reopened from 6am to 6pm

APRIL 7
Second COVID-19 death in the CNMI involved a 77-year-old woman

APRIL 10
Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. starts building field hospital at the upper level parking lot of the hospital, to be used in case of a spike in the number of COVID-19 patients in the CNMI.

APRIL 14
11 COVID-19 cases, with eight in stable condition, one hospitalized at CHC, and two deaths

APRIL 15
20,000 COVID-19 test kits ordered from South Korea arrive.

APRIL 17
CHCC announces possibility of free mass testing in the CNMI

APRIL 18
14 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the CNMI, including nine recoveries and two deaths.

APRIL 22
More medical supplies arrive from Long Beach, California.
Medical field hospital at CHCC is now called “Medical Care and Treatment Site.”

APRIL 25
Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force and CHCC opens schedule to the public to get COVID-19 free mass testing.

APRIL 29
CNMI had zero COVID-19 case after last individual who tested positive has recovered and was released from Kanoa Resort.

APRIL 30
Less than three days after the start of mass testing, a total of 224 individuals have already undergone testing in the CNMI.

MAY 2
United Airlines resumes Guam to Saipan flights.

MAY 4
948 persons have undergone community based-testing at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport.
Curfew (from 7pm to 6am) is eased to 10pm to 5am.

MAY 7
New COVID-19 case involving a 17-year old male, identified as a result of contract tracing, raising the number of CNMI cases to 15.

MAY 12
Three new COVID-19 cases involving three males—19, 15, and 27 years old, asymptomatic and contacts of previously diagnosed COVID-19 cases in the CNMI. So far, a total of 19 cases, five active cases, 12 recoveries, and two deaths.

MAY 14
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres announces proposed July 15 target to reopen the CNMI to tourists

MAY 18
Two new COVID-19 cases involving two males—22 and 31 years old—identified through contract tracing. CNMI numbers up to 21, with seven active cases, 12 recoveries, and two deaths.

MAY 19
Mass testing starts on Rota at the Benjamin T. Manglona Airport and on Tinian at the Tinian Health Center.

MAY 20
CNMI efforts to flatten the curve remains strong as there are only 21 cases of COVID-19 since March.

MAY 22
One more tests positive involving a 27-year-old female contact of a previously diagnosed COVID-19 case in the CNMI. This raised the CNMI’s total to 22.
The U.S. Small Business Administration approved $34,902.12 loan under Paycheck Protection Program Aid in the CNMI.

MAY 24
CNMI government offices open to the public and operating under regular hours.

MAY 26
CNMI declared under “Level Yellow”—partial restaurant service open, curfew hours from 11pm to 5am and business hours from 5am to 10pm

MAY 28
10% of Saipan’s population has undergone free mass testing at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport.

JUNE 3
One tests positive for COVID-19, identified as a female passenger on the May 28 United Airlines flight from Guam that originated from the U.S. mainland. CNMI total now at 23.

JUNE 5
Three new cases add to the COVID-19 roster, now up at 26, with eight active cases, 16 recoveries, and two deaths.

JUNE 8
A passenger from the May 28 United Airlines flight from Guam test positive for COVID-19, raising the CNMI’s COVID-19 cases to 27

JUNE 9
One passenger at quarantine site tests positive, boosting the CNMI’s COVID-19 cases to 27

JUNE 10
Two more test positive. The CNMI now has a total of 30 COVID-19 cases.

JUNE 15
Community testing leaves its original site, the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport, to transition to villages to target community members with limited transportation and for workers who cannot leave work.
The CNMI moves to Level Blue, which now allows 75% occupancy, beach group gathering of 15 people, and curfew is adjusted from 12am to 4am.

JUNE 17
CHCC removes “recoveries” from its dashboard of daily counts.

JUNE 22
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres announced that the CNMI has enough PPEs on hand to last it several months.

JUNE 29
COVID-19 cases on Saipan at 30, with active cases down to one and two deaths.
“Level Blue” in force.