The CNMI has no control over the reopening of its borders to international airlines, but it has control over getting everyone on the islands be vaccinated, according to Gov. Ralph DLG Torres.<\/p>\n
In response to a question during his Friday radio press briefing, Torres said that President Joe Biden\u2019s directive lifting some restrictions for foreign travelers from 33 countries who are fully vaccinated applies across the nation, so it\u2019s the CNMI\u2019s obligation to fulfill that mandate. One of the sticking factors of that directive, though, is for foreign travelers to be fully vaccinated.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a very big point because we can\u2019t stop airlines from coming in,\u201d Torres said. <\/p>\n
He said they want to be accommodating and welcome the CNMI\u2019s business partners that are bringing in tourists but, at the same time, Torres underscored the importance of doing what the CNMI can do to safeguard its community. <\/p>\n
He said that when Biden issued the directive, the CNMI needs to follow it as much as it can and work on implementing additional safeguards for the community.<\/p>\n
Torres said the community needs to understand that COVID-19 is going to be here and that the CNMI is mandated to open up its borders. <\/p>\n
\u201cThose are the things that we don\u2019t have control over. What our control is to get our kids vaccinated. The control is to get each and every one on these islands vaccinated,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Torres said control means the government and the people can tell their family members, friends, neighbors, business partners about the need to get vaccinated as it is to protect everybody individually.<\/p>\n
Effective Nov. 8, 2021, all fully vaccinated travelers are now allowed to enter the United States. (Ferdie de la Torre)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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