Just 1 active case at Kanoa

A week and a half has passed since the CNMI has had a new COVID-19 case. Also, four individuals who were admitted into the isolation site at Kanoa Resort in Susupe have been released, leaving only one active case in the facility.

According to Esther Muña, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. chief executive officer, there is now only one person in the facility.

Last June 18, there were five active cases, Muña said. But as of yesterday, June 22, there is now only one active case at the isolation facility.

As for the new quarantine procedures, especially for those arriving from off-island, residents have many unanswered questions: “For those who are quarantined at home, must they stay where they are or can they leave but still take the extra precautions?” or “Will CHCC will be monitoring those who are in home quarantine?”

For one, Muña said that CHCC is not a monitoring agency and that role is for be the Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force.

Warren Villagomez, who chairs the task force, said the new quarantine procedure will rely on mutual trust, where the task force will build trust in the community, specifically those who are in home quarantine, since passengers who are arriving on Saipan will be enrolled in the Sara Alert system, in coordination with the Department of Public Safety, CHCC, and Bureau of Environmental Health.

Villagomez added that there is a geo-mapping portion of the Sara Alert database that identifies where an individual who is enrolled in it is. Additionally, when passengers enter the CNMI, they will go through a verification process to reassure that they (passengers) understand the quarantine policies and procedures.

“It’s accurate. It’s a Global Positioning System, so in the event that you don’t report to your appointment date or you’re reported that you’re supposed to be in home quarantine and you’re not, we will see that,” said Villagomez. This process is being expanded to Rota and Tinian.

According to the quarantine procedure for all individual entering the CNMI, residents who don’t show up for the specimen collection appointment will be charged $500 and brought to the designated isolation site by DPS for their specimen collection and isolation while waiting for their results.

“It’s a personal responsibility to make sure your loved ones are safe and that they or you don›t spread [any infection] to them,” said Muña.
To date, the CNMI has a total of 30 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with one active case and two deaths.

COVID-19 in Guam

The Department of Public Health and Social Services in Guam tested 273 individuals for COVID-19 last June 19 with conclusive results. Zero tested positive and 273 tested negative.

Seven additional cases tested positive for COVID-19 through the Department of Defense. According to the Joint Information Center in Guam, 15 cases of COVID-19 have been identified among service members in a unit deployed to Andersen Air Force Base since last June 12. All service members assigned to the unit were placed in isolation and have since been relocated to Anderson AFB where they are under medical observation.

“Restriction of movement procedures are enforced to those self-quarantining and Andersen AFB is working to test all members of the deployed unit. Andersen AFB, working with DPHSS, continues to conduct contact tracing,” said the JIC statement.

Additionally, the JIC stated that the Andersen AFB is complying with all DoD travel restrictions and clearance processes and is committed to ensuring the health and safety of all service members, civilians, families, and the community.

To date, Guam has a total of 200 confirmed cases with five deaths, 173 released from isolation, and 22 active cases.