“IT is a serious matter, and we’re not taking this lightly,” Gov. Ralph DLG Torres said on Friday regarding the delta variant of the coronavirus.
“We should be concerned…and it’s important and critical that we continue to put our masks on, continue to sanitize our hands, don’t touch our eyes, especially when you’re out in the community. Practice [the 3 W’s] as much as you can and do not let your guard down,” he added.
He said it is not 100% guaranteed that individuals will not contract the virus, especially if they have been traveling.
“That’s why traveling is something that really should be considered critical… Even those who are vaccinated continue to get positive for delta variant. We need to do our end personally and keep social distancing as much as we can, wear our mask, and sanitize our hands,” he said.
He likewise emphasized the importance of following quarantine protocols, especially individuals who are permitted to quarantine at home.
“Please don’t play with the system. Stay home. The more you communicate with others, the higher risk you give the community. We’re seeing it today, passengers testing negative when they arrive, and then on the fifth day, they’re positive. If you love your family, even if you’re vaccinated, please comply with the protocol and the directive. It’s critical. It’s designed to protect the community and to protect you individually,” he said.
The governor noted that his administration, Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. Chief Executive Officer Esther L. Muna and CNMI Covid-19 Task Force Warren Villagomez continue to make decisions in consultation with health experts to ensure the safety of the community.
“Now that we have vaccines, we need to get vaccinated, and continue to practice what we’ve been preaching since day one,” the governor said as he commended CHCC, the task force and all first responders for identifying positive Covid-19 cases at the borders.
He said the CNMI will continue to monitor the situation on Guam and the other neighboring islands and countries, “and listen to our CHCC CEO, the task force and the other experts.”
As of Wednesday, 75.4% of the CNMI’s eligible population had been fully vaccinated. CHCC is hoping that 1,939 more individuals will be vaccinated in order to reach the CNMI’s 80% herd immunity goal.
