THE CNMI reported its 12th Covid-19-related fatality on Monday.
Over the Christmas holiday weekend, three other Covid-19-related deaths were reported.
Of the total fatalities since March 2020, four were vaccinated individuals.
Two of the deaths had occurred before Covid-19 vaccines became accessible to the CNMI.
“We want to offer the families our sincerest condolences and sympathies,” Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. Chief Executive Officer Esther L. Muna said on Monday.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has brought tremendous grief to the families and we want to be able to speak to you about the prevention, as well as some therapeutic treatment we have that will soon be available for the CNMI,” she added.
Meanwhile, “we would like to protect the family’s privacy…. Giving more details on this small island where people will know who it is, and… to label [individuals as] vaccinated [or] unvaccinated — that is something that, for us, does not really serve any purpose. We are emphasizing, again, that there are hospitalizations…. Three-fourths of the hospitalizations are unvaccinated.”
As of Dec. 25, there was a total of 2,893 cases confirmed positive for Covid-19 in the CNMI since March 2020.
There were 13 hospitalizations, six of which are under subacute care at the alternate care site at Kanoa Resort Saipan and seven are under acute care at CHCC.
Of these 13, 10 are unvaccinated and three are vaccinated.
One was discharged from the ACS at Kanoa.
Subacute care is less intense than acute care.
Muna said 93.4% of the eligible CNMI population had been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, “but this still leaves a lot of unvaccinated folks susceptible to this disease.”
She added, “I want to thank the community for their overwhelming response to this Covid-19 pandemic and getting themselves vaccinated [and] getting their family members vaccinated. This is really tremendous. The number of 93.4% of fully vaccinated of eligible [individuals] is really amazing. It really does help our community and helps our [healthcare] system, especially in the response [to] this Covid-19 here in the CNMI.”
“I know that it’s very difficult,” Muna said, “and for some of you that had a hard time deciding [whether or not to get] vaccinated, I am pleading with you to please, if you’re qualified, get your booster shots as well. There is a lot of information going [around], especially what’s happening in the U.S. [mainland] about how the Omicron variant is transmitting within the community, and having the [booster shot] is really important and significant to prevent hospitalizations, to prevent death, to prevent severe illnesses, and even just having to be symptomatic if you’re positive [for Covid-19],” she said.
“We really urge and encourage everyone to please, if you’re eligible, to get your booster shot, please get [it]. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is, especially as this community again continues to suffer with deaths, as well as with these hospitalizations, and, of course, with our healthcare system [and] healthcare providers working night and day just to make sure that individuals have the treatment, trying as much as possible to help [Covid-19 patients] recover.”
World Health Organization medical epidemiologist Dr. Ali Khan and CHCC pharmacy manager Rodylyn Bacani joined Muna in a virtual media conference Monday to provide updates, including therapeutic treatment options.
Dr. Khan has been in the CNMI for approximately a week, following the departure of Pacific Islands Health Officers Association regional communicable disease epidemiologist Dr. Stephanie Kern-Allely.
“At the end of this pandemic — not the end of [Covid-19 because that] is not going anywhere — but at the end of this pandemic where it’s disrupting your lives and it’s putting too many people into the hospital and keeping the economy from thriving — is vaccinations. There are still approximately 10% of people who are eligible to be vaccinated in this community. I would encourage them to please go ahead and get vaccinated. The vaccines are safe, effective, and free. We’ve had over eight billion doses given worldwide, so we have lots of data on the safety of the vaccine. For those of you who have already been vaccinated, congratulations,” said Dr. Khan.
Citing guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, he added, “About 30% of people have been boosted [in the CNMI], so there’s an opportunity for those who have not yet been boosted to please go get boosted. That will decrease your risk of severe disease from Omicron variant…. It’s important to take that extra precaution. What we have seen is that about three-quarters of all of your admissions are for people who are unvaccinated, so there’s a message again for those who are unvaccinated to please go and get vaccinated.”
If you have concerns regarding a possible exposure to a positive case, call CHCC contact tracers no later than 9 p.m. at (670) 285-1942, 286-1710, or 286-1711.
If you are experiencing symptoms of Covid-19, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, or new loss of taste or smell, see your provider or call the CHCC Tele-Triage hotline at (670) 233-2067.
For more information, view the CNMI Covid-19 guidebook at www.staysafecnmi.com/livecovidsafe
