ANOTHER newly arrived traveler has been confirmed positive for Covid-19, bringing the CNMI’s total number of cases to 173 since March 28, 2020.
The individual was identified by travel screening and confirmed diagnosis through fifth-day testing on May 15, 2021, Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. spokesman Guillermo C. Lifoifoi said.
The individual, who did not report any Covid-19 vaccination, has been moved to the designated isolation area for close monitoring, Lifoifoi added.
In addition, he said the CHCC Communicable Disease Investigation/Inspection team has already initiated contact tracing for the most immediate contacts of the new confirmed case, including passengers on the same flight.
On Guam, as of Friday, there has been 8,079 officially reported cases of Covid-19 with 139 deaths and 89 cases in active isolation.
Eased protocols
In other news, CHCC and the Governor’s Covid-19 Task Force announced over the weekend that effective May 17, 2021, fully vaccinated travelers coming in from Level 1 jurisdictions on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travel Health Notice List do not have to quarantine in any form, after providing verifiable vaccination documentation from their health department or health provider and after their lodging or household passes assessment.
(See https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/map-and-travel-notices.html#travel-4)
The governor’s office, in a statement, said if the household assessment fails, these travelers will be given the option to self-monitor at home. Travelers from Level 1 jurisdictions do not have to test upon arrival but will be tested on the fifth day after arrival.
Fully vaccinated travelers from jurisdictions other than Level 1 can apply to quarantine at their lodging or home after being verified for completing their Covid-19 vaccination and passing a lodging or household assessment. If their household assessment fails, these travelers will be required to quarantine at a government quarantine facility. These individuals will be tested on arrival and on the fifth day after arrival.
