Over 900 undergo mass testing

Mass testing for COVID-19 is in full swing at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport. (KRIZEL TUAZON)

As of last Saturday, May 2, a total of 948 persons have been tested through the community-based testing at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport, according to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. website. There have been no reports yet of anybody testing positive at the mass testing site.

The CHCC website states that 838 people have tested negative for COVID-19 at the mass testing site. No further information was provided for the 110 remaining people who also got tested at the Saipan airport but, according to CHCC chief executive officer Esther Muña, should any positive results pop up, it will be announced to the public at once.

The community-based testing started last April 28.

To date, the CNMI has had 14 confirmed coronavirus cases, with 12 recoveries and two deaths.

KCHC opens clinic on Tinian

The Kagman Community Health Center and its board of directors has announced the opening of the Tinian Isla Community Health clinic in San Jose, Tinian.

According to the a KCHC statement in a Facebook post, TICH will serve as a primary care practice that will provide comprehensive health care services. Additionally, it will offer patients “high quality, personalized health care appropriate for the patient’s medical history, their family and all the factors that have an impact on their health.”

The clinic also offers a sliding fee scale that is based on income and family size for those who are without insurance or under-insured.

According to KCHC, TICH is a federally qualified health center, meaning that it is community-driven, non-profit clinic located in a medically underserved area. A community health center’s mission is to provide affordable, comprehensive primary care to all, regardless of income level or insurance status.

It was learned that a former KCHC clinical staff, Arley Long, will be the primary provider at TICH.

“I am very excited to announce Ms. Long’s appointment to the Tinian Community Health Center,” said KCHC CEO Vince Castro. “She has been providing services at the Kagman location for over a year [and] these services will now be available to all residents on Tinian.”

Castro stated that Long provides “top-notch clinical education and knowledge with a strong passion for providing community-based care. We are pleased that she will now serve her own community of Tinian.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, services will be offered mostly through telemedicine, which is medical visits through a computer with a working webcam, or video and phone calls.

Providers at KCHC are still available to seeing patients via telemedicine.
For more information about the Tinian Health Center or to schedule an appointment, contact: 433-4750.