PROOF of vaccination may soon be required of patrons before they enter business establishments, CNMI Covid-19 Task Force Chair Warren F. Villagomez said in a media briefing last week.
“We are in discussion with the governor to put out a directive in regards to businesses verifying vaccination cards,” he said. “We see that it is important to continue to put out efforts on making sure that we’re not mixing communities that are not vaccinated or not complying with our [Covid-19] measures and protective gears…to safeguard our community.”
In August, Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero announced the implementation of new Covid-19 restrictions, including a vaccination mandate in which establishments required proof of vaccination for entrance of patrons 12 years of age or older.
This required all staff and patrons to show proof of vaccination to dine in at restaurants, bars, clubs, fitness centers, dance studios, movie theatres, food courts, sporting events, boat cruises, and other events before using the facilities or entering the premises.
Should an individual choose not to share the required information to enter a specific area of the premises of a business or organization where proof of identification and proof of vaccination is required, they will not be permitted to enter.
Those with valid exemptions, such as for medical reasons, are required to provide proof of valid exemption.
In the CNMI, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres recently implemented temporary Covid-19 restrictions from Monday, December 6 to Sunday, December 19, including restrictions on social gatherings, curfew, mask-wearing, and the closure of all non-essential government offices.
Non-essential government offices were closed for the holiday season beginning at noon on Thursday, December 23 and will reopen today, Monday, December 27.
“On the task force level, we’re supporting all efforts that…have been put out in messaging, as well as practicing [the] 3W’s [and] enforcement [of the Covid-19 measures] within the community,” Villagomez said. “Yes, we didn’t have any changes [or] additional measures as the directives that were put out had expired, but again, I want to remind everyone…to minimize big gatherings and, of course, [adhere] to the 3W’s,” he added.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an employer may require that their employees be vaccinated.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or the HHS, has established that employers, including healthcare providers when acting solely in their role as employers, may ask an employee about vaccination status without violating the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA.
