One more traveler tests positive

Another traveler has tested positive for COVID-19 upon arriving in the CNMI, raising the Commonwealth’s total to 58 confirmed cases.

According to a Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. statement, the individual was identified by travel screening and was confirmed positive upon arrival. The individual has been moved to quarantine at Kanoa Resort in Susupe for monitoring.

CHCC has already done contact tracing for people who have come in contact with the 58th case, such as passengers on the same flight, close family members, and friends.

According to Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, the Alternate Care Site that has been built at Kanoa Resort, will be officially turned over to CHCC this Wednesday, Sept. 9. Warren Villagomez, who heads the COVID-19 Task Force, said that the CNMI will continue to be involved with the ACS, which includs facility management, making sure that all necessary infrastructure is in place, as well as backup systems, among others, in order to meet the minimum requirements of a health care facility.

Esther Muña, CHCC chief executive officer, said the ACS is key to the CNMI’s response effort, considering that the CNMI was projected to have 6,000 COVID-19 cases. “We needed to have something to prepare ourselves, you know. It’s always about preparedness, and prevention,” she said.

Seeing that Guam’s hospitals are filling up and beds are being fully occupied, Muña said that the CNMI cannot be put in that situation where the hospital will be looking for beds. With the ACS being handed over to CHCC, the hospital can ensure that, should the CNMI also see a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, the facility is ready to be used.

Muna stated that the facility is about maintaining the “standards of care” and being sure that is meets the requirements of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which is another reason why it needed to be transferred to CHCC.

Torres said that having the ACS is beneficial for the island because it is mainly for patients who need COVID-19 care, and the hospital will focus more on providing health care to those who don’t have COVID-19.
“I want to remind our community that, regardless of how up-to-date, how state-of-the-art the facility we have…we hope and we pray we never get to use the facility, but if we do, it’s ready for all of us,” said Torres.

COVID-19 in Guam

The Joint Information Center in Guam reported two more deaths on the island, raising the number of COVID-19-related deaths in the U.S. territory to 16.

The 15th death was a 55-year-old male who had multiple chronic diseases that were accelerated by COVID-19. JIC stated that the male was admitted to the Guam Memorial Hospital last Aug. 29 and was pronounced dead last Sept. 4 at approximately 9:15pm.

The 16th death was a 49-year-old female, who also had multiple chronic diseases that were also worsened by COVID-19. She was admitted to GMH last Aug. 27 and was pronounced dead last Sept. 6 at approximately 2:50am.

“In less than a week, we mourned the passing of five individuals to COVID-19. It is with deep sadness that we must announce the passing of a 16th person to this virus. First gentleman Jeff [Cook], Lt. Gov. Josh [Tenorio], and I send our deepest condolences and sympathies to her family,” said Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero. “To the people of Guam, we each play a role in fighting this deadly virus. Stay home, wear your masks, and social distance. Let’s protect ourselves and our loved ones and together, we can save lives.”