“We did receive, in the last few days, another flight from Asia, again with more [Personal Protective Equipment] to add to our stockpile. We are also, this week, expecting a flight, this time from the West Coast United States, from California,” he said.
The governor’s authorized representative, Patrick Guerrero, front center, leads a tour of the alternate care site facility at Kanoa Resort in May. Photo by K-Andrea Evarose S. Limol
A lot of medical equipment coming in, he added, will be for the alternate care site at Kanoa Resort as well as for the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation for use on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
The construction of the alternate care site facility at Kanoa Resort is still in its final stages, Guerrero said, “due to some changes and unforeseen circumstances.” It was initially scheduled for completion on May 22.
Guerrero said that reimbursement requests amounting to approximately $38 million have been submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for review.
From there, he explained, a project worksheet for funding will be created by the agency, and any questions they have will be answered and hopefully result in reimbursements from the FEMA Public Assistance Program within a week or two for costs already incurred by the CNMI.
Regarding the designated quarantine sites, which are the Pacific Islands Club and Kanoa Resort, Guerrero said the use of these facilities has resumed, with PIC nearing maximum capacity due to a recent influx of inbound passengers.
He added that recent inbound flights have been averaging 60 persons, but there is still the possibility of flights being at maximum capacity, and so it is crucial for the CNMI to be prepared for such an occurrence.
He said Kanoa Resort remains an isolation facility for persons under investigation or confirmed cases.
Guerrero emphasized the importance of separating incoming passengers who may not be carrying the virus from those who are confirmed to have the virus.
Based on federal regulations, he added, the contracts for the use of PIC and Kanoa Resort are for a 90-day period and can be terminated at any time.
“We have used Kanoa for just a little over 60 days now, as well as PIC, so we are coming up for an extension if we do still have the need for [these] quarantine facilities. If not, we will be terminating the contracts, especially with the possible reopening of tourism in the CNMI,” Guerrero said.
He added that procurement these days is very minimal, noting that meals for most personnel have been eliminated due to the reopening of business establishments that allow for personnel to get meals on their own time.
However, meals are still being provided to the quarantined patients, as well as personnel at Kanoa Resort, PIC, and the community-based testing site at the airport due to the nature of their duties that prevent them from obtaining meals on their own time.
“We did a lot in the first 60 days under emergency procurement to get all the supplies that we need,” Guerrero said.
