On May 14, 2020, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services published interim final rule (IFR) implementing the Northern Mariana Islands U.S. Workforce Act of 2018. The purpose of these rules is to protect U.S. Workers in the Commonwealth of the Northern Islands and ensure that U.S. Workers will not be displaced or be a competitive disadvantage for employment.

The Department of Finance (DOF) is pleased to announce its first distribution of 27,020 stimulus checks, amounting to $42,761,156.83.

The CNMI Department of Labor (CNMI DOL) was notified that some employers are cancelling health insurance benefits to ensure employees with partial earnings qualify for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) programs. These actions were not recommended or approved by CNMI DOL.

The Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation (CHCC) announce that three (3) additional people have been recently confirmed to have contracted COVID-19. 

The Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force would like to announce that the CNMI Community-Based Testing Initiative will resume operations tomorrow, May 12, 2020.

The Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force, and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation (CHCC) announce the transition of the CHCC COVID-19 Health Tent to the Medical Care and Treatment Site (MCATS) on the CHCC upper level (see diagram below).

The Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force and Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation would like to inform the public that one (1) new individual has been confirmed positive for COVID-19. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the CNMI is now 16.

On May 7, 2020, the CNMI Department of Labor (CNMI DOL) provided a list of general questions and answers regarding the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) programs. CNMI DOL continues to work with the US Department of Labor (USDOL) on implementation, so information may be subject to change.