Guam resident tests positive

A 67-year-old male resident of Guam who had just landed on Saipan last Saturday was immediately isolated after testing positive for COVID-19, three days after the CNMI reported its first confirmed case after an 18-day streak of zero positive cases. This brings the CNMI’s total number of COVID-19 positive cases to 16.

The affected person tested positive during the airport surveillance process. The specimen was confirmed positive at the Commonwealth Health Center laboratory.

According to a Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force statement, the 67-year-old male is currently isolated at the Alternative Care Site at Kanoa Resort in Susupe. The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. has already initiated contact tracing for his close contacts, including other passengers who were with him on the flight.

According to press secretary Kevin Bautista, there is no report that the individual had been tested before traveling to the CNMI. He added that the CNMI only has control over the procedures and protocol that are being done on island.

“Nevertheless, he was identified through our airport surveillance, which speaks to the CNMI’s ability to track down a positive case, isolate it, and initiate contact tracing for further containment,” said Bautista.

Additionally, Bautista pointed out that the CNMI is not authorized to stop flights from coming in. Only the Federal Aviation Administration can stop any flights or if the airline voluntarily suspends flights. United Airlines, which provides the flights between Guam and Saipan, had suspended its flights in April.

“The governor’s request to United [Airlines] to suspend flights in April was honored by the airline and [was] a result of their ability to work together,” said Bautista.

At the end of the day, Bautista said, only the federal government controls flights, but airport surveillance was already in place at the Saipan airport since January.

“With the increased medical capacity that Governor Torres and Esther Muña, CHCC chief executive officer, have worked on collaboratively for the CNMI, we’re confident that the CNMI will keep its curve flat,” said Bautista.

Mass testing resumption

Bautista said the Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force will be announcing when the community-based testing at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport will be resuming.

The announcement last Thursday said that the mass testing will only be suspended from May 8, 2020, through May 10, 2020. It was stopped last Friday to allow CHC staff to release test results in a timely matter.

“We have a large volume of specimens, and we want to make sure everyone who has gone through the testing gets their results,” he said.

As of May 7, the CNMI has tested 2,336 individuals after nine days.

“We intend to keep our curve flat, as compared to other parts in our region,” said Bautista. “We continue to conduct surveillance and isolation measures if needed to contain the virus and help stop the spread.”

The CNMI now has a total of 16 positive cases, with 12 recoveries and two deaths.

COVID-19 in Guam

The Department of Public Health and Social Services tested 17 individuals for COVID-19 last May 9, with zero positive results. To date, there have been 151 positive COVID-19 cases in Guam, with five deaths and 124 released from isolation.