Saipan-- While remaining under a state of public health emergency for another 30 days, the CNMI is moving to the next phase of its economic recovery plan as it prepares for eventual post-coronavirus reopening.
The CNMI moves from Community Vulnerability Level “yellow” to “blue,” which signifies significant progress in community-based testing. This level represents the fourth point of phasing before “green” and ensures that precautions continue to be made to ensure thresholds of positive cases are regularly monitored.
CNMI Gov. Ralph on Monday renewed his public health emergency declaration, which will remain in effect through July 15.
As the CNMI prepares for full recovery and the reopening of tourism next month, the commonwealth government advises hotels, tour operators and tourism industry stakeholders to finalize preparations for thermal monitoring and establish internal standard operating procedures for mitigating risk in preparation for tourist arrivals alongside public health officials.
The government also said preparations among tourism operators may continue in anticipation of the resumption of flights and guidance should be sought to federal officials on the steps necessary to resume international flights.
The amendment was based on the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.'s guidance, and community-based testing data by the Governor’s Covid-19 Task Force, Governor Ralph DLG. Torres announced on Monday that
The amended guidance mandates:
• Gatherings of no more than 25 people in a single room or single space are permitted throughout the Commonwealth.
• All businesses that have facilities open to the general public are now open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
o Posting of “one-way” flow signs for entrance and “one-way” flow signs for exit;
maintaining crowd control; availability of hand sanitizer station on entry and on exit; provide methods to ensure protective barriers between worker and customer (Ex: face shield, plexiglass barrier at customer counters); and ensuring there are visible customer lineup markers that are six feet apart leading to the cashier counter.
o Businesses must regularly and frequently clean all surfaces; sanitize main entrance door handles; sanitize handles of shopping baskets and shopping carts after each use; sanitize handles for chill boxes, cooler, and freezers.
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o Businesses (that are not restaurants or bars) shall also limit occupancy to 75 percent in accordance with supplemental regulatory guidance set by the CHCC Bureau of Environmental Health (BEH) and the Department of Public Works (DPW) Building Code.
o All businesses engaged in recreational or amusement type activities and gaming, including the casino, video poker establishments and e-gaming facilities, remain closed to the public.
• All businesses that offer food or beverages for on-premises consumption, including bars and restaurants, must serve dine-in customers under social distancing parameters and at 50 percent of their originally permitted occupancy limit, in accordance with supplemental regulatory guidance from the CHCC-BEH.
o In addition to social distancing, restaurants and bars must do temperature screening of all patrons entering their premises.
o Food establishments are highly encouraged to use outdoor dining space wherever possible, in accordance with established supplemental regulatory guidance from the CHCC-BEH and social distancing guidelines.
• Bars are permitted to reopen with temperature screening before entry. o Outdoor spaces are highly encouraged whenever possible.
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• Curfew hours begin at midnight and ends at 4 a.m.
o Exceptions to curfew Hours remain: § First responders while in performance of their official duties § Any person lawfully employed during the curfew hours or is in direct route of going to or returning from their place of employment § Any person going to or returning from admission to the hospital or completion of treatment such as hemodialysis.
• Church and worship services can now limit attendance to 50 percent of allowed occupancy and maintain social distancing and sanitation guidelines.
• Gyms remain open. Non-contact recreational activities (such as gym workouts and group exercises) are permitted under strict social distancing and sanitation guidelines.
• Mañagaha Island continues to be open to the public so long as social distancing requirements are implemented for both transport vessels and on-island activities. Transport vessels must be subject to constant and consistent disinfection.
• All public beaches and pathways are open only for purposes of exercise and wellness, both physical and mental, and shoreline subsistence fishing such as talåya, rod and reel, and commercial fishing activities, subject to the social distancing requirements.
o Provided further that exercise, wellness and shoreline subsistence and commercial fishing activities
are only allowed from 4 a.m. to 12 a.m. daily.
• All public parks including the Grotto remain closed to the public.