Previous Story
On COVID-19 testing: ‘Be patient with the process’
|
Posted on Apr 27 2020
With test kits now on island, and a strategy to expand COVID-19 testing to the community being developed, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres is asking for just one thing from everyone: please be patient.
The governor said that the COVID-19 Task Force, with Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. chief executive officer Esther Muna, has been aggressive in trying to find ways to conduct the testing, stressing that “ultimately, that’s always been our goal…to do community-based surveillance testing.”
Torres said in an interview that they have reached out to the Kagman Community Health Clinic, and has been working, too, with the mayors of Rota and Tinian, on how to best approach both communities.
“We’re just asking the community to be patient on the process, and be patient on how we conduct this test, taking samples of the specimens. I hope that we can get through this soon, and as seamless[ly] as possible,” he added.
CHCC clarified over the weekend that, for now, the request for testing is being prioritized for first-responders who are providing care for COVID-19 patients, as well as for Commonwealth Health Center employees providing direct patient care. Only community members who have an identified level of risk are currently being tested for COVID-19.
Torres added that more COVID-19 supplies are coming in, and thanked all federal partners, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Department of Defense, for the assistance.
“We hope we never get to use these supplies. I hope we never get to use the ventilators. But for the number of ventilators that have arrived, and that are in the works, we’re in definitely a better position than we were yesterday,” he added.
The task force, according to the governor, wants to continue to bring in more supplies and equipment.
“If you look at what’s going on across the world, and our side of Asia, they’re going through a second wave of pandemic. That is a great concern for all of us, especially out here on the islands,” he said. “We have good folks that are working on the ground. There’s good people, people that really take care and do care about our island. …First responders, nurses, and doctors, we’re doing all we can to provide safety to our community.”
