The CNMI\u2019s number of positive cases jumped by four last Dec. 24 to 122, but Esther Mu\u00f1a, chief executive officer of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., assured that there are no signs of community transmissions for now.<\/p>\n
The four new cases in the CNMI were identified through travel screening and got their diagnosis confirmed either through testing upon arrival or on the fifth day after their arrival. CHCC assured that these four have been safely in quarantine and were moved to the isolation area for close monitoring. CHCC has already initiated contact tracing for the most immediate contacts of the newly confirmed cases, including passengers on the same flight.<\/p>\n
Responding to questions about community transmission of the virus in the wake of reports that a CHCC personnel had tested positive for the virus, Mu\u00f1a stated in a radio briefing last week that the tools the CNMI possess have been working for many months now and that the community needs to continue to be united in the fight against COVID-19. She also cautioned against stigmatizing people who are infected with the virus.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw that his picture was passed around [on social media]. He\u2019s a member of society, he\u2019s a member of this community, and we need to be mindful that he was just doing his job. It was not his fault that he got infected. We need to offer him our prayers and support and pray that he recovers,\u201d said Mu\u00f1a.<\/p>\n
Mu\u00f1a stated that she also appreciates Far East Trading Co. Safehouse for addressing the speculations that the CHCC personnel was at their bar while he was supposed to be in quarantine.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this particular case, he did a job that not everybody wants to do [which is] to get on a plane and transport patients and getting to high surge areas, but he did it [and] he did it for the CNMI,\u201d said Mu\u00f1a. She hopes the CNMI can come together to acknowledge that he\u2019s a \u201chealth care hero\u201d and he\u2019s no different than anyone in the CNMI. <\/p>\n
CHCC also shut down speculations that they ran out of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines last Dec. 25. They said this rumor is false and disseminated this information on CHCC\u2019s social media pages.<\/p>\n
Additionally, CHCC is asking for the public\u2019s cooperation as they assist those who are at a higher risk of contracting and\/or suffering from serious illnesses due to COVID-19 exposure. <\/p>\n
Since the vaccine comes in two doses, CHCC strongly recommends that people be present for their second vaccination, or else they will lose their priority placement if their second dose is missed. Also, if people who got their first shot are thinking of traveling, CHCC recommends making plans that ensure that they will still receive their second dose.<\/p>\n
Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) received his first COVID-19 vaccination shot last Dec. 26. \u201cIt was such a joy to see many of our elders who, like me, are 65 years and older get vaccinated themselves,\u201d said Sablan in a Facebook post.<\/p>\n
Sablan stated that the vaccine is a good tool to \u201cgrow and attain herd immunity\u201d in the CNMI. Sablan is confident that the vaccine will \u201chelp us begin to see our lives return to some sort of normalcy.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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