THE Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. on Monday reported that two patients confirmed last week to be positive for Covid-19 have been hospitalized over the weekend.
Both are receiving treatment and are being actively monitored, CHCC said adding that for the protection of patient privacy, no further information will be disclosed about them.
CNMI Covid-19 Task Force Chairman Warren Villagomez said all Commonwealth air and sea entry points remain protected at the highest level.
He said as the CNMI continues to test inbound passengers for Covid-19 upon arrival, it will also mandate all inbound passengers to quarantine for five days at a government-designated facility, including those within the travel bubble.
“No one is exempt,” he added.
He said the spike in positive Delta variant cases throughout the world prompted the CNMI to implement “higher-level protective measures” to safeguard the community and prevent a potential community spread.
He said with the support of the Torres-Palacios administration, Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. Chief Executive Officer Esther L. Muna, and other medical professionals will continue to monitor the virus and its variants, and discuss protective measures to further safeguard the CNMI.
CEO Muna, for her part, said, “It’s unfortunate, but what we are seeing are several breakthrough cases.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines vaccine breakthrough infection as “the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA or antigen in a respiratory specimen collected from a person at least 14 days after they have completed all recommended doses of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-authorized Covid-19 vaccine.”
One of the CNMI’s biggest concerns is the monitoring of persons who were approved for home quarantine prior to the recent protocol change, Muna said.
Although instructed to stay home, some of these individuals may not be adhering to the home quarantine protocols because they are not being monitored 24/7.
With the rising number of positive Covid-19 cases around the world, Muna said more people should get vaccinated against the virus.
However, there are several community members who are still unvaccinated, she said, and these include children who are not eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
“There’s evidence that [the Delta variant] is highly infectious and it can spread rapidly. So, when you have a large community or a large number of individuals that are still unvaccinated, that is definitely a big concern of ours, and they’re coming in from the borders,” Muna said.
She said there are breakthrough cases in the CNMI, although the infected vaccinated individuals have a low chance of exhibiting severe symptoms.
Even with the influx of inbound flights, inbound passengers will continue to be tested upon arrival and must quarantine for five days as well as retested on the fifth day.
“The CNMI is safe within itself. We are our own bubble,” Muna said.
As of Monday, the CNMI had reported 226 total confirmed Covid-19 cases and two deaths since March 28, 2020.
