Pacific / Northern Marianas

CNMI eyes business closures

08:46 am on 24 March 2020

The Northern Marianas government is mulling the closure of businesses to combat the potential spread of Covid-19.

Saipan in the Northern Marianas. Photo: Supplied

Governor Ralph Torres has appealed for the business community's support so that if a directive to shut down is made it fully complies.

Currently some restaurants remain open, while some have transitioned to providing purely take-away and delivery services.

Gas stations and grocery stores are also still open.

As of Monday, all people travelling into the CNMI from a country with a Covid-19 outbreak are to be quarantined for a 14-day period.

That includes CNMI residents coming back to the territory, and people coming from Guam, Hawaii, and the continental United States.

The Public School System's Child Nutrition Program is also to continue to provide meals to students until classes resume.

However, instead of serving the food in school cafeterias, it will be handed out in a type of 'grab-and-go' setup.