EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 2020-07
SUBJECT: Order directing the Commonwealth Homeland Security & Emergency Management Office, through the CNMI COVID-19 Task Force, in partnership with the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation to undertake necessary COVID-19 containment measures by means of the development of emergency directives to protect the health and safety of the public.
WHEREAS, on January 29, 2020 I declared a State of Significant Emergency to establish response, quarantine, and preventive containment measures concerning the 2019 Novel Coronavirus to the CNMI; and
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020 I declared a State of Public Health Emergency and a continued Declaration of a State of Significant Emergency in response, quarantine, and preventive containment measures concerning Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), and further amended this Executive Order on March 17, 2020 and March 19, 2020, and by means of Directive 2020-005 and Memoranda GOV20-110, GOV20-120, GOV20-130, GOV20-133, GOV20-140, GOV20-144 and GOV20-145 to implement necessary adjustments in the CNMI’s response, quarantine, and preventive containment measures due to the escalation in the severity of the ongoing Significant Emergency and Public Health Emergency throughout the Commonwealth, the nation, and the world as a result of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, I have granted the CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management the authority to respond to this State of Significant Emergency and to coordinate all matters pertaining to the Significant Emergency response through the CNMI COVID-19 Task Force; and
WHEREAS, during this State of Significant Emergency, the Special Assistant for the CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management, through the COVID-19 Task Force, shall have primary jurisdiction, responsibility, and authority for: (1) Planning and executing major disaster or a state significant emergency assessments, mitigations, preparedness response, and recovery for the CNMI; (2) Coordinating major disaster or a state significant emergency response between Federal and Local authorities; (3) Collaborating with relevant federal government authorities, private or non-governmental organizations or companies; (4) Coordinating recovery operations and mitigation initiatives subsequent to major disaster or a state significant emergency; and (5) Organizing and coordinating public information activities regarding major disaster or a state significant emergency response operations; and
WHEREAS, during this Public Health Emergency, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation Chief Executive Officer (CHCC CEO) shall coordinate all matters pertaining to the public health emergency response of the CNMI and shall have primary jurisdiction, responsibility, and authority for: (1) Planning and executing public health emergency assessment, mitigation, preparedness response, and recovery for the CNMI; (2) Coordinating public health emergency response between federal and local authorities; (3) Collaborating with relevant federal government authorities, private organizations or companies; (4) Coordinating recovery operations and mitigation initiatives subsequent to public health emergencies; and (5) Organizing public information activities regarding public health emergency response operations; and
WHEREAS, in a short period of time, COVID-19 has spread through the Commonwealth and has resulted in eleven confirmed COVID-19 cases, including two COVID-19 related deaths, necessitating updated and more stringent guidance from federal, state, and local emergency response and public health officials;
NOW THEREFORE, I, RALPH DLG. TORRES, pursuant to the authority vested in me as Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands by Article III, § 10 of the Commonwealth Constitution, the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Act of 2013, 1 CMC § 20144, and the CNMI Emergency Health Powers Act of 2003, 3 CMC §§ 2181-2195, the Second Amended Executive Order 2020-04, order and direct as follows:
1. The Commonwealth Homeland Security & Emergency Management Office, through the CNMI COVID-19 Task Force, in partnership with the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation (CHCC), shall undertake necessary COVID-19 containment measures by means of the development of Emergency Directives to be titled the CNMI COVID-19 Emergency Directives of 2020 to protect the health and safety of the public.
These Emergency Directives shall serve as provisional orders for the public during this State of Significant Emergency and Public Health Emergency and shall include guidance for the enforcement of these orders pursuant to the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Act of 2013, 1 CMC § 20144, and the CNMI Emergency Health Powers Act of 2003, 3 CMC §§ 2181-2195. These Emergency Directives shall initially be consistent with Executive Order 2020-001, Executive Order 2020-004, and the amendments made to Executive Order 2020-004 on March 17, 2020 and March 19, 2020, and Memoranda GOV20-110, GOV20-120, GOV20-130, GOV20-133, GOV20-140, GOV20-144 and GOV20-145.
2. Further,for the preservation of public safety and health throughout the entire Commonwealth, I direct all Commonwealth residents and visitors to heed to the CNMI COVID-19 Emergency Directives of 2020 as provided by the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Office, through the CNMI COVID-19 Taskforce, in partnership with the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation. Failure to heed the Emergency Directives will subject violators to the penalties outlined in the Emergency Directives.
3. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately and all memoranda, directives, and other measures taken in accordance with this Declaration shall remain in effect for thirty (30) days from the date of this Executive Order unless I, prior to the end of the thirty (30)-day period, terminate the declaration.
SIGNED AND PROMULGATED ON THIS 16th day of April, 2020
/s/
RALPH DLG. TORRES
GOVERNOR
