The Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation (CHCC) and the Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force announces new quarantine protocols: Effective May 17, 2021, fully vaccinated travelers coming in from Level 1 jurisdictions on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Travel Health Notice list do not have to quarantine in any form, after providing verifiable vaccination documentation from their respective health department or health provider and after their lodging or household passes assessment. If household assessment failed, travelers will be given the option to self-monitor at home. Travelers from Level 1 jurisdictions also do not have to test upon arrival but will be tested on the fifth day after arrival.
Before flying to the CNMI, all travelers are encouraged to fill out the mandatory health declaration form at https://governor.gov.mp/covid-19/travel for faster processing.
Fully vaccinated travelers from jurisdictions other than Level 1 can apply to quarantine at their lodging or home after being verified for completing their COVID-19 vaccination and passing a lodging or household assessment. If their household assessment fails, travelers will be required to quarantine at a government quarantine facility. These individuals will be tested on arrival and the fifth day after arrival.
Individuals are deemed fully vaccinated two weeks after their second or last dose.
Should any individual test positive during any test, they will be isolated at the government quarantine facility.
Travelers applying for any modified quarantine may receive an application decision after they arrive and may be required to quarantine at the designated government facility pending approval. It is recommended to apply at least 72 hours prior to arrival into the CNMI, as requests are processed in the order of receipt and validation.
CNMI vaccinated individuals will be processed quicker as CHCC can verify vaccination status in-house.
Travelers who are requesting Critical or Essential Work approval will be evaluated based on the strength of work justification, point of origin, pre-arrival PCR test, COVID-19 vaccinations, and transit/flight plans.
Additionally, according to the CDC, there is more evidence that the risk of infection from COVID-19 is minimal for fully vaccinated individuals and has issued a guidance relating to masks and fully vaccinated individuals. However, vaccinations are not easily verifiable, and the CNMI has yet to achieve herd immunity. Therefore, the CHCC and the Governor’s COVID-19 Taskforce are reminding the general public that masks in public places are still necessary and are urging more residents to get vaccinated. More vaccination locations are open, with registration available on-site and at no cost to anyone.
As of May 15, 2021, 57% of the eligible population of the CNMI is fully vaccinated. Together, we can keep CNMI safe.
To register for COVID-19 vaccinations, visit www.vaccinatecnmi.com or call 682-SHOT (7468).
