Press Releases

The Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality (BECQ) analyzes water samples collected from 85 beaches and storm drainages on Saipan, Tinian, Rota and Managaha islands as part of a regularly scheduled sampling program. These samples are analyzed to determine if they contain excessive concentration of fecal indicator bacteria and meet CNMI Water Quality Standards.

The Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force and Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation would like to update the public that the CHCC will begin to utilize Diagnostic Laboratory Services in Honolulu, Hawaii for specimen testing of COVID-19 in addition to the Guam Public Health Laboratory (GPHL).  Specimens sent for testing will follow the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 3-level testing strategy:

Governor Ralph DLG. Torres, the Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force, and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation (CHCC) confirm three (3) new COVID-19 cases, bringing CNMI’s total confirmed case count to 11.

In an effort to enforce social distancing and help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the CNMI State Medicaid Agency has announced that they have installed a new drop-box as a way for applicants to submit their applications and supporting documents during the global pandemic.

Governor Ralph DLG. Torres announced that the CNMI Department of Labor (DOL) continues its ongoing preparation to implement the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program under the recently enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Governor Ralph DLG. Torres, the Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force, and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation (CHCC), has confirmed that a second COVID-19 patient passed away today, April 7, 2020 at CHCC.

The Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force and Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation (CHCC) would like to inform the public that during this week (April 6-12, 2020), 118 individuals are completing their 14-day quarantine.

At the request of Governor Ralph DLG. Torres, FEMA, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the US Department of Defense (DoD) shipped over critical medical supplies and equipment, as well as a 50-bed Federal Medical Station from the Strategic National Stockpile to Saipan on Saturday.

Wearing masks and “Do-It-Yourself” (DIY) face coverings has been a hot topic since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 3, 2020, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidance on wearing non-medical cloth face coverings in public areas where other social distancing measures are difficult.

Since the beginning of the Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force’s quarantine mission assignment, the Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority (COTA) has activated its entire fleet of buses and vans in order to safely transport travelers to designated quarantine facilities.