EFFECTIVE Tuesday, Feb. 8, all travelers entering the CNMI by air or sea will no longer be tested on arrival, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. and the Governor’s Covid-19 Task Force said Tuesday.
They noted that approximately 99% of the CNMI’s eligible population is fully vaccinated and approximately 53% of those fully vaccinated having received a booster shot.
“The surveillance of Covid-19 at the border is not the best predictor of the impact Covid-19 has on the CNMI’s healthcare system, and the CNMI will shift to focus on medically significant community infections,” CHCC and the task force said.
Unvaccinated travelers should still quarantine at home for at least five days and are required to get tested at a community-based testing site five days after their arrival.
If the traveler receives a positive result, the traveler must isolate for an additional five full days.
For inbound travelers whose final destination is either Rota or Tinian, their fifth-day test may be scheduled at their respective final destination’s health center.
If fully vaccinated travelers develop symptoms, they should get tested at least five days after arrival.
Fully vaccinated travelers wishing to avail of fifth-day testing must register at a community-based testing site.
All travelers are required to complete a mandatory health declaration form and upload their vaccination card.
Travelers are encouraged to fill out their health declaration form prior to arrival at www.staysafecnmi.com
Fully vaccinated individuals are responsible for uploading onto their health declaration form proof of completing a Covid-19 vaccine series.
The vaccination record must include the following information: vaccine administrator, recipient’s name, recipient’s date of birth, vaccination site, vaccine name, vaccination administration date, lot number, and vaccine expiration date.
For travelers vaccinated outside the CNMI, in addition to the CDC Vaccination Record Card, an official immunization record or an attestation statement may be required by the CHCC Communicable Disease Investigation/Inspection team.
The attestation statement confirms that the information provided in the health declaration form is true and is subject to CNMI laws that may lead to criminal fines.
For individuals who were vaccinated in the CNMI, vaccination records from the CHCC will be used to verify vaccination status.
Unvaccinated travelers seeking essential worker status must submit a negative PCR test with their health declaration 72 hours prior to arrival via www.staysafecnmi.com
All travelers and residents are reminded to live Covid-19 safe: follow the 3Ws (wear your mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance); avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces; cover coughs and sneezes; clean and disinfect high touch surfaces daily; be alert for symptoms daily; and get tested for Covid-19.
For a guidebook on how to live Covid-19 safe, visit www.staysafecnmi.com/livecovidsafe
