“WE cannot please everybody,” Gov. Ralph DLG Torres said on Friday regarding the CNMI-South Korea travel bubble program.
Asked about the difference between the treatment of travel bubble participants and returning residents, he said protecting the CNMI community remains a priority even as the Commonwealth tries to revive the local economy.
He noted that the CNMI is the only jurisdiction with a travel bubble agreement with South Korea, the islands’ major tourism market.
“We worked on that program to bring in our tourists…. We looked at the benefit and cost…. As a returning resident, we welcome you home. Same with the tourist bubble visitors,” he said.
The governor added that CNMI Covid-19 protocols in place remain effective.
“Just seeing the number of Delta cases in the last month is obviously concerning to all of us. That’s the reason why we continue to implement the proper protocols,” he said, adding that discussions regarding these public health proprieties continue between himself, Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation Chief Executive Officer Esther L. Muna, the CNMI Covid-19 task force, and other medical professionals.
The governor encourages the community to continue to adhere to the protocols, reiterating that they are effective and are keeping the community safe.
He thanked the CNMI community and all of its state and federal partners for continuing to be vigilant amid the still raging Covid-19 pandemic.
“Together as a community, we’ve done great and we will continue to be vigilant,” he said.
“I also ask for the community’s continued patience and understanding as we also adjust [to] our travel bubble. Ultimately, our healthcare is our priority. That has never shifted. So, moving forward, we’ll be seeing more tourists here, but we want to make sure that we just continue to put some protocols in place.”
CHCC CEO Muna, for her part, said travel bubble participants comply with the same guidelines as returning residents.
She noted that South Korea is still a Level 2 area, or a locale deemed to be “Covid-19 moderate” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Muna said individuals from South Korea are tested prior to arrival and quarantine for five days, similar to individuals who are from Guam or the U.S. mainland.
CNMI Covid-19 Task Force Chair Warren Villagomez said they remain vigilant at all local ports of entry.
“We never let our guard down with the travel bubble,” he added.
He said the CNMI is in close contact on almost a weekly basis with South Korea regarding whether or not visitors from the Asian country are complying with the CNMI-South Korea travel bubble agreement.
“They want to report back, so we’re doing that every day,” he added.
Moreover, he said, the CNMI has beefed up its enforcement to ensure that the safety directives are being followed due to the influx of travelers and returning residents.
Villagomez thanked all CNMI first responders, including the CHCC staff, nurses, swabbers and laboratory team members who continue to help keep the community safe while the travel bubble agreement with South Korea is being implemented.
As of Saturday, the CNMI had a total of 272 reported confirmed positive cases of Covid-19, two deaths, and five hospitalizations since March 28, 2020.
