‘COVID-19 still brings uncertainties’

Noting that some hospital employers in Guam, including physicians and nurses, have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last few weeks, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres said these incidents underscore the importance of protecting medical workers and other first responders in the CNMI.

Speaking at his regular radio press briefing Friday, Torres also pointed out that news in the U.S. mainland states that 20% of medical professions throughout the United States are infected with COVID-19.

When nurses and physicians are infected, the healthcare system is sorely affected, he said. “So we need to protect them,” Torres added.

Last Thursday, the Guam Daily Post reported that 32 staff members at the Guam Memorial Hospital, including nurses and physicians, have tested positive for COVID-91 in the last few weeks.

Torres said they worked hard with COVID-19 Task Force chair Warren Villagomez in purchasing Personal Protective Equipment to make sure that they safeguard the same professionals—doctors and nurses—that are protecting the community. “And I can’t thank them enough,” he said.

Providing physicians and nurses the proper gear and equipment and enough supplies is one of the reasons why people in the CNMI also live in a very safe place.

“And so today, I want to echo that I want to again remind everyone that we continue to fight this pandemic together and not against each other,” the governor said.

Torres said a lot of things are moving in the CNMI such as transferring by next week the Alternate Care Site from Kanoa Resort to the Commonwealth Health Center for COVID-related health issues.

Torres said when the CNMI started fighting this pandemic, there were so many uncertainties and that, even today, there are still new things and new cases. In last week’s case of a sailor who tested positive for COVID-19 on Tinian, apparently the entire Seabees team had been quarantined for 14 days and that the Department of Defense followed all necessary protocols before shipping them to Tinian. “Yet when they got to Tinian, one still tested positive,” Torres said.

Also, before the latest two positive cases—Nos. 50 and 54—the government had basically opened up just about every business with some restrictions. When the two cases came in, Torres said they reimplemented the restrictions to ask the community to give them two more weeks to look into their contact tracing so that the community will be safe.

He said he is thankful to the community for always supporting the administration, supporting the task force, supporting CHCC chief executive officer Esther Muña, and Dr. John Tudela of the medical team since Day 1.

“Thank you, our first responders. You guys are the pride and joy of the Marianas,” said Torres, adding that these responders are the reason why people are safe.

He urged people to thank every doctor, nurse, and first responder when they meet out there. The governor said there are so many people that have worked tirelessly around the clock to provide the same safety.

“For every citizen in the Marianas, it doesn’t matter what’s your race, social status, political affiliation, or your position. Our health care is meant for everyone to protect every individual that calls the Marianas home,” Torres said.

He added that they’re also trying hard to protect tourists when the CNMI opens up its borders.