CNMI records first community transmission in 204 days

10:41 am on 15 March 2021

The Northern Marianas has recorded its first community transmission of Covid-19 in over 200 days.

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A quarantine transit vehicle Photo: CNMI govt

The latest case had returned a positive result on Friday after undergoing community screening for travellers returning to the island.

The Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation said the person was asymptomatic and close contacts would also be tested.

The CNMI had a total of 147 Covid-19 cases with 120 identified through travel screening and 27 local transmissions.

The latest case comes amid Governor Ralph Torres' renewal of the Declaration of State of Public Health Emergency and Continued Declaration of a State of Significant Emergency he enacted soon after the CNMI recorded its first case in March 2020.

The twin declarations direct the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation, the CNMI Homeland Security & Emergency Management Office and all other necessary Commonwealth agencies to undertake containment measures as necessary to meet the threat of Covid-19.

Torres said the coronavirus continued to pose a significant and imminent threat of harm to the community, environment, and the people of CNMI.

He said emergency declarations were necessary to respond, quarantine and ensure the prevention and containment of Covid-19 in the CNMI.