GOVERNOR Ralph DLG Torres on Friday said although the CNMI has not had a community-based Covid-19 case for several months now, this does not mean that the community vulnerability level will move to Green from Blue.
“It doesn’t mean that we should let our guard down,” he said. “Right now, we are safe, [but] it doesn’t mean that we [will be] safe tomorrow. It doesn’t mean that we will be safe for the next few days or the next few months.”
Last week, the governor renewed his declaration of a state of public health emergency and continued declaration of a state of significant emergency establishing response, quarantine, and preventive Covid-19 measures.
He likewise renewed his order directing the CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management Office to undertake necessary Covid-19 containment measures and emergency directives to protect the health and safety of the public through the CNMI Covid-19 Task Force and in partnership with the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.
“The declaration is to protect our people. It’s to make sure that we acknowledge that although we’re safe here, that we are still in a declaration of emergency, and we need to be one step ahead of the game,” Torres said.
Dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic “is not easy — we see that around the world and we’re seeing it nearby, and it’s very difficult.”
He said community spread would have a significant impact on the CNMI, “given our culture and close familial ties.”
He added, “I don’t want to start closing holes and gaps. Let’s just close it now and make sure that everybody understands the declaration of emergency because we are still in a state of emergency.”
Regarding the new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pertaining to quarantine measures for fully vaccinated inbound passengers, the governor said that he, along with CHCC Chief Executive Officer Esther L. Muna and Covid-19 Task Force Chairman Warren Villagomez, will discuss these in greater detail.
CDC said these new guidelines can shorten the 14-day quarantine period by implementing acceptable alternatives.
“We need to study this new information first and see if it’s applicable here and what is the best way to approach it,” he added.
CHCC CEO Muna, for her part, said, “As with any guideline, we want to localize it. We definitely need to make sure that we have the proper systems in place.”
She said on mandatory declaration forms, inbound passengers are asked whether or not they have been vaccinated.
Health officials on the ground then check the validity of their responses.
Muna said some people tried to use counterfeit vaccination cards, “which is all the more reason why the proper systems need to be in place in the CNMI to safeguard the community. For the CNMI, one case is a lot.”
Decisions pertaining to quarantine are not only based on CDC guidance, but also on the needs of the community, the CEO said.
“We have to localize it. All the time, we have to localize it, whatever the federal government guidance is,” Muna said.
She said the CNMI is fortunate to have an alternate care site in case there is a surge of positive Covid-19 cases.
“Travel to the CNMI is a risk, that is why we have systems in place to protect the community,” she said.
As of Wednesday, the CNMI reported 135 positive Covid-19 cases, of which 110 involved inbound passengers; 10, community screening; and 16, known contacts. There were two persons in isolation.
Of the 110 inbound passengers who tested positive for the virus, 67 originated from the U.S. mainland, 32 from a U.S. territory, and 12 from a foreign country.
