AS the global community approaches the two-year anniversary of the first positive coronavirus cases, people are asking, “Will this pandemic ever end?”
At the CNMI Safe Travels Summit last week, Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation Chief Executive Officer Esther L. Muna said discussions are ongoing on whether or not the pandemic will soon be classified as an endemic.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an endemic refers to the constant presence and/or unusual prevalence of a disease or infectious agent in a population within a geographic area.
An epidemic refers to an increase, often sudden, in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in a population of a particular area.
A pandemic refers to an epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents, usually affecting a large number of people.
“There [are] a lot of engagement discussions already being made about considering this as an endemic versus a pandemic, but we have to also be cautious because we don’t know the different variants that can emerge. We still have a lot of unvaccinated individuals in the U.S. alone,” said Muna, noting that most cases have been identified at the border.
The health chief noted that only 60% of the entire U.S. population are fully vaccinated.
“There is that concern, but there is a discussion to transition to an endemic. But again, we still have to be careful,” she said.
Muna said more information will be provided after the holidays.
There has been an uptick in local cases, but she reassured the community that the CNMI will continue to conduct community surveillance, testing, and contact tracing, even if the public health declaration ends.
Muna said there will probably be more cases, but there are also tools such as contact tracing to “close the gap.”
“We’re still going to have those tools… That’s what we’re transitioning to, to make sure that those tools are there, and to have the community accept it already, that those things are going to happen. We’re probably going to find another case again, but we’re going to be very fast in contact tracing because we’re closing that gap. We’re going to know who’s coming in, we’re going to…try to test as many people as we can and…throw in the net [to] see… who has it, and try to contain it, prevent deaths, and save lives,” she said.
CNMI Covid-19 Task Force Chairman Warren F. Villagomez, for his part, said, “As we chart and pivot, we’re starting early to also build capacity and get everyone prepared in the event that there’s an uptick [or] a spike of [Covid-19 cases], but again, the capabilities and resources are in place…. We’ve built lab capacities within CHCC, so with that, we’re moving forward and we’re comfortable with this direction.”
Pacific Island Health Officers Association regional communicable disease epidemiologist Stephanie Kern-Allely, MPH said she does not anticipate Covid-19 disappearing in 2022 or any time soon.
“We don’t have any scientific evidence that it houses itself only in humans, which is our categorization for eradication, like polio, smallpox, [and] other diseases we can eradicate. We are seeing some seasonality of it. We’ll see more evidence this winter,” she said.
Community cases
In a media briefing on Monday afternoon, Kern-Allely provided a breakdown of cases identified since Nov. 28, 2021.
As of Sunday, Nov. 21, 59% of the cases were fully vaccinated, 19% unvaccinated, 17% ineligible, and 5% partially vaccinated.
These numbers come out to 108 who were fully vaccinated, 35 unvaccinated, 31 ineligible, and 9 partially vaccinated.
Most of the cases were identified in the 20 to 49-year-old age group, with 50 males and 31 females in that particular age group.
Seven males and six females were identified in the under-5-year-old age group; 32 males and 21 females in the 5 to 19-year-old age group; 15 males and 15 females in the 50 to 64-year-old age group; and two males and four females in the over-65-years-old age group.
109 were exposed to the virus through their household, 38 through a workplace, 12 through a school, 11 through travel, and seven through the community.
So far, contact tracing efforts have identified cases as far back as October 4, 2021.
119 cases were identified through contact tracing, 32 through community-based testing, 21 through the CHCC, and 11 through travel.
Testing
Free Covid-19 testing is offered on all three main islands.
Travel testing is available by appointment. Results will be printed and made available for patients for next-day pickup.
If an individual feels any Covid-19 symptoms, s/he is encouraged to contact his/her local health provider.
Vaccinations
The administration, together with CHCC and the CNMI Covid-19 task force, continues to encourage community members who have not been vaccinated to get vaccinated.
The fully vaccinated are encouraged to obtain their booster shots six months after completing their vaccination series, as there is data that has proven that the efficacy of the vaccine does wane after six months.
CEO Muna said that there is no issue with the supply of vaccines and booster shots, as the CNMI has been receiving a steady flow of supplies.
CHCC is considering mandating the Covid-19 vaccine for eligible students, and encourages businesses to have their employees vaccinated and receive booster shots when eligible to.
The CHCC board of trustees is accepting comments on proposed amendments to the School and Child Care Facilities and Communicable Disease Rules and Regulations to require eligible students to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
The commenting period will end this Sunday, Nov. 28.
The proposed amendments can be found at https://cnmilaw.org/pdf/cnmiregister/2021_Volume_43/2021_Number_10.pdf
To provide comments, send or deliver your comments with your data, views, or arguments to CEO Muna with the title “Attn: Revision to CHCC School and Child Care Facilities Regulations, and Communicable Diseases Rules and Regulations” via e-mail at esther.muna@dph.gov.mp
After the comment period ends, the CHCC board will meet to consider the comments and, if requested, issue a statement for or against its adoption.
The regulations will then need to be approved by the attorney general.
If approved by the AG, the regulations will be published and will become effective 10 days after publication and the AG’s approval.
As for children who are currently ineligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, or children under the age of five, PIHOA regional communicable disease epidemiologist Kern-Allely said such vaccine is not anticipated to be coming down the pipeline any time soon.
“I think it’s a good thing that our youngest age group is the one that’s most closely looked at. The amount of evidence for vaccination and safety in that age group is a higher threshold, and so that amount of evidence, those studies are… currently underway for those under five [years of age], but that evidence will take some time. I wouldn’t expect eligibility for the under-five vaccination group for some time. I don’t think that will be coming down the pipeline at any time soon, but we still have that 5 to 11-year-old group that is just newly eligible…. That’s our main focus for right now, but yes, the vaccine is hopefully going to be expanded to those under five [years of age], but it will take some time. I don’t think there’s an estimate currently,” she said.
Health officials continue to encourage community members to practice the 3 W’s: wear a mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance.
Residents are encouraged to register for initial Covid-19 vaccinations or booster shots at www.vaccinatecnmi.com by calling the CHCC call center at (670) 682-SHOT (7468), or registering in person at the multi-purpose center in Susupe.
To register for community-based testing, visit https://covidtesting.chcc.health
No code is required to register. If there are no dates showing, this indicates that all spots have already been filled. Community members are encouraged to stay tuned for more test dates.
To view the new Covid-19 dashboard, visit https://chcc.datadriven.health/covid19 (updates next business day).
