CNMI cases breach 100

The CNMI marked a bleak milestone yesterday when the islands registered its 100th case of COVID-19 when two incoming passengers tested positive for the coronavirus.

The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. said the two were identified through travel screening and were confirmed diagnosis through testing upon arrival. As per protocol, the individuals have been safely in quarantine and were moved to the designated isolation area for close monitoring (the Kanoa Resort Alternative Care Site). CHCC said it has already initiated contact tracing for the most immediate contacts of the new cases, including passengers on the same flight.

Of the 100 confirmed cases in the CNMI, 74 are incoming passengers (36 from the U.S. mainland, 27 from a U.S. territory, and 11 from foreign countries). Twenty-six cases were also from community transmission—10 from contact tracing and 16 from community testing conducted by CHCC, including two deaths. The CNMI hasn’t had any community transmission since its 51st case in early August.

Guam records 90th COVID-19-related death

In the CNMI’s neighboring island of Guam where a serious outbreak of COVID-19 has taken hold, a 73-year-old male with underlying health conditions that were further compounded by COVID-19 succumbed last Sunday, making him the U.S. territory’s 90th COVID-19-related death.

Guam’s Joint Information Center reported that the 73-year-old male died at the Guam Memorial Hospital at approximately 12:47am last Sunday. He was admitted to GMH on the same day and was a known positive case.

“The loss of a loved one always comes too soon. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you mourn,” said Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero. “The tragedy of COVID-19 is in its isolation—how it keeps families apart when their comfort is needed the most. However, that does not have to be our reality. If we come together and remain committed, we can end this pandemic.”

Aside from reporting on Guam’s 90th COVID-19-related death, Guam JIC also said they have 120 new cases of the COVID-19. JIC said a total of 489 were tested last Sunday and 120 of those tested positive for COVID-19 with the remaining 369 testing negative.

To date, there have been a total of 5,233 officially reported cases of COVID-19 in Guam, with 90 deaths, 1,742 cases in active isolation, and 3,402 recoveries, according to the Guam JIC. It added that 73 COVID-19 patients are admitted (66 at the Guam Memorial Hospital, two at Guam Regional Medical City, and five at U.S. Naval Hospital). COVID-19 patients in ICU are 19 and 10 are on ventilators.