TWO additional individuals have been confirmed positive for Covid-19 the Governor’s Covid-19 Task Force and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. said on Monday.
Within the recently identified community cluster, a total of 10 individuals have been confirmed positive for Covid-19. The cluster brings the CNMI’s total confirmed cases to 156 since March 28, 2020. There were two fatalities in March and April 2020.
The two additional cases were identified through expanded contact tracing and testing on redundant platforms, the task force and CHCC said. Both individuals are safely in quarantine and are asymptomatic. All positive cases and close contacts are isolated and in quarantine away from the community, the task force and CHCC added.
According to the administration, the immediate response by the task force and the use of state-of-the-art tools and techniques by the CHCC contact tracing and laboratory team allowed for rapid containment and protection for the community.
The task force and CHCC are conducting their expanded contact tracing investigation. Contact tracing will continue to identify high-risk contacts and to isolate them away from the community, the task force and CHCC said.
“At this time, the Covid-19 Task Force and CHCC are not seeing a widespread community transmission. The concern right now is providing care to the individuals and potential individuals exposed to Covid-19. Early identification will help to protect our community.”
Stay healthy
CHCC Chief Executive Officer Esther Muna, for her part, is reminding individuals to ensure that they take care of their health.
She said, “A strong health system helps in Covid-19 response and not delaying your care when you need it not only ensures you stay healthy but it also contributes to the strengthening of our health system.”
Free tests
CHCC is offering Covid-19 testing, at no cost for the community, beginning Monday through Friday, March 19, 2021 at Kanoa Resort.
To avail of this free service, people can register online at https://www.vaccinatecnmi.com/covidtesting
Surveillance testing is also offered at Kanoa Resort from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Confirmation ID is required to enter the facility.
Community members are “reminded to be cautious when interacting with others outside of their immediate household. Take actions to protect yourself and your loved ones.”
• Wash your hands. Watch your distance. Wear a mask.
• Practice proper hand-hygiene to minimize the spread of the virus.
• Get vaccinated for Covid-19 when it is available to you. Vaccination will help prevent you from getting really sick from Covid-19 should you be exposed.
Emergency declaration renewed
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres on Friday renewed his declaration of a state of public health emergency and continued declaration of a state of significant emergency establishing response, quarantine, and preventive Covid-19 measures.
He likewise renewed his order directing the CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management Office to undertake necessary Covid-19 containment measures and emergency directives to protect the health and safety of the public through the CNMI Covid-19 Task Force and in partnership with the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.
These orders will remain in effect for 30 days, or until Sunday, April 11, 2019.
In a media conference conducted online Saturday evening, the governor said the renewal of the emergency declaration had nothing to do with the new cases.
The emergency declaration will be renewed each month as long as the emergency exists, he said.
Vaccination
As of Sunday, the CNMI had administered the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to 12,943 people and the second dose to 9,155 people.
Of the 12,943 who have received their first dose, 11,364 were administered on Saipan, 743 on Tinian, and 843 on Rota.
Of the 9,155 who have received their second dose, 8,670 were administered on Saipan, 138 on Tinian, and 347 on Rota.
The CNMI has received a total of 30,810 Pfizer doses, of which 8,420 people have completed their vaccination series, while 10,836 have received their first dose.
To date there have been 12,800 Moderna doses received, of which 617 people have completed their vaccination series, while 1,776 have only received their first dose.
Four hundred Johnson & Johnson doses have also been received, but none have been administered, according to the CNMI Covid-19 vaccination dashboard.
The age demographics of those who have received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine indicate the following:
• 67 are below the age of 19.
• 1,800 are between the ages of 20 and 29.
• 1,800 are between the ages of 30 and 39
• 2,200 are between the ages of 40 and 49.
• 3,400 between the ages of 50 and 59.
• 2,600 between the ages of 60 and 69.
• 849 are between the ages of 70 and 79.
• 189 are 80 years of age or older.
As of Monday, 26,131 Covid-19 tests had been conducted, of which 95.3% were on Saipan, 2.5% on Tinian, and 2.3% on Rota.
A total of 17,542 people had been tested.
Of the entire CNMI population, 32.556% were tested as of Monday.
On Guam
The Joint Information Center of Guam said it was notified that the island’s 134th Covid-19-related fatality occurred at the Guam Memorial Hospital on March 13, 2021, at approximately 4:26 p.m. The patient was a 60-year-old female with underlying health conditions. She was admitted to GMH on Jan. 18, 2021, and was a known positive case.
“To those who knew her, Jeff, Josh, and I send our sincerest condolences and sympathies. Grief cannot be healed quickly — it is something we must work with each passing day. Please know you are not alone in your mourning,” Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said.
Also on Monday, five new cases of Covid-19 were identified out of 608 tests performed by the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services on Sunday, March 14, and tests from additional laboratories from Friday, March 12 to Sunday, March 14. Three cases reported recent travel history and were identified in quarantine.
To date on Guam, there have been a total of 7,773 officially reported cases of Covid-19 with 134 deaths, 27 cases in active isolation, and 7,612 not in active isolation.
