On-arrival COVID-19 test scrapped

The CNMI is scrapping COVID-19 tests for all passengers arriving in the Commonwealth, whether by airplane or ship, as it shifts its focus away from border surveillance.

In a statement yesterday, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. said it is now prioritizing care for medically significant community infections. Therefore, effective yesterday, all incoming travelers will no longer be tested upon arrival.

According to CHCC, the surveillance of COVID-19 at the border is not the best predictor of the impact COVID-19 has on the CNMI’s health care system, and the CNMI will shift to focus on medically significant community infections.

“With approximately 99% of the CNMI’s eligible population fully vaccinated and approximately 53% of those fully vaccinated having received a booster shot, the epidemiological data, and the state of the health system in the CNMI, entry protocols will be updated,” CHCC stated.

Under the newly updated protocols, all travelers are required to complete a mandatory health declaration form and upload their vaccination cards. In addition, travelers are encouraged to fill out their health declaration form prior to arrival at www.staysafecnmi.com.

Unvaccinated travelers should quarantine at home for at least five days and wear a well-fitted mask if they must be around others.

Also, unvaccinated travelers are required to get tested five days after arrival at a Community-Based Testing site. If the traveler receives a positive result, the traveler must isolate for an additional five full days.

For inbound travelers whose final destination is either Rota or Tinian, their fifth-day test may be scheduled at their respective final destination’s health center.

As for fully vaccinated travelers, they should still continue to wear a well-fitted mask if they must be around others and if they develop symptoms, should get tested at least five days after arrival. Fully vaccinated travelers wishing to avail of fifth-day testing must register at a Community-Based Testing site.

Fully vaccinated travelers should continue to wear a well-fitted mask if they must be around others and if they develop symptoms, should get tested at least five (5) days after arrival. Fully vaccinated travelers wishing to avail of 5th-day testing must register at a Community-Based Testing site.

Fully vaccinated individuals are responsible for uploading onto their health declaration form proof of completing a COVID-19 vaccine series. The vaccination record must include the following information: vaccine administrator, recipient’s name, recipient’s date of birth, vaccination site, vaccine name, vaccination administration date, lot number, and vaccine expiration date.

For travelers vaccinated outside the CNMI, in addition to the CDC Vaccination Record Card, an official immunization record or an attestation statement may be required by the CHCC Communicable Disease Investigation/Inspection team. The attestation statement confirms that the information provided in the health declaration form is true and is subject to CNMI laws that may lead to criminal fines. For individuals who were vaccinated in the CNMI, vaccination records from CHCC will be used to verify vaccination status.

Unvaccinated travelers seeking essential worker status must submit a negative PCR test with their health declaration 72 hours prior to arrival via www.staysafecnmi.com.

Despite these changes, CHCC assured that the safety and health of the residents of the CNMI remain the top priorities of the Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force and the CHCC.