JIC RELEASE NO. 113 - Profiles of Earlier Confirmed Cases; GRMC Drive-thru Testing Available; DPHSS Updates; Disaster Relief Cash Assistance Program; DOL Update; EIP Update

COVID-19 test results are reported from multiple labs at varying times of the day. Cumulative test results will be provided this evening once all tests from today are finalized.

To date, there have been 151 cases confirmed through COVID-19 testing provided with 5 deaths and 123 released from isolation. As this is an evolving situation, information is subject to change with little to no notice. 

The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) uses CDC’s test-based criteria for releasing patients from isolation. This requires COVID-19 patients to have two consecutive negative tests at least 24 hours apart before being released from isolation.

Some cases that were previously released from isolation have returned to active isolation status after re-testing positive for COVID-19 through follow-up testing. To date, no additional cases have been linked to people released from isolation.

For updated information on COVID-19 cases on Guam, visit the COVID-19 Dashboard at http://dphss.guam.gov/covid-19/. 

*Some cases that were previously released from isolation have tested positive through follow-up testing

**Some cases traveled to more than one country

GRMC COVID-19 Drive-thru Testing Available
Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) has begun conducting onsite drive-thru testing for COVID-19. This service is available to everyone including GRMC patients and the public, who will need a referral from their doctor to qualify to have the COVID-19 test performed at GRMC. A patient’s primary doctor will be the one to contact GRMC’s Specialty Clinic to ensure the necessary paperwork has been received via email and if so, to book the testing appointment for their patient. Specialty Clinic will contact the patient with the details of their testing appointment.

The drive-thru testing area is staged outside of GRMC’s Emergency Department, on the east side of the building. GRMC asks that patients arrive ten (10) minutes prior to their appointment. All test kits will be processed at GRMC’s in-house laboratory using BD MAX™ System technology. This test uses a real-time PCR method to detect SARS-CoV-2 virus and confirm the diagnosis of COVID-19 infection.

There is a fee involved. Payments may be made by cash, check, or credit card payment. The drive-thru testing sites will be open from 9 am to 12 pm, Monday through Thursday for the general public. The sites will be open for GRMC staff and patients, including Pre-Op patients, also from 9 am to 12 pm, Monday through Friday. For more information, please call GRMC’s Specialty Clinic at 969-4895.

Watch for COVID-19 Symptoms: Loss of Smell and Taste, Fever, Breathing Difficulty or Other Symptoms

If you think you have a known or unknown exposure to COVID-19 and develop loss of smell and taste, or fever and other symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your health care provider or the DPHSS medical triage hotline at 311. Stay home and isolate yourself from other members of your household, and alert your employer.

Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed COVID-19 cases. The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure. Common symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• Fever on exam
• Fever-subjective
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of smell and taste
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea, vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Myalgias (muscle aches)
• Chills
• Chest pain
• Sore throat                 
• Runny nose    
• Fatigue/weakness
• Headache                    
• Congestion

• (671) 480-7859
• (671) 480-6760/3
• (671) 480-7883 
• (671) 687-6170 (ADA Dedicated Number)

Attention Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Recipients
DPHSS advises individuals/families who are needing assistance in budgeting their food dollars to make their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits last during this State of Public Health Emergency due to COVID-19. The University of Guam Community Nutrition Education Programs (CNEP) can assist SNAP recipients in managing food resources and for shopping and cooking healthily while on a budget. To access CNEP resources and virtual workshops at no cost, send an email to uog.nutrition@triton.uog.edu or visit https://www.facebook.com/UOGCNEP/

Certification End-of-Date for June 2020 Extended up to December 2020
DPHSS advises the community that block grant recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Cash Assistance Programs (CAP), and Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) will have their certification end-date for June 2020 extend up to December 2020.

Medicaid and Medically Indigent Program recipients will still need to renew their cases or the case will be terminated. Recipients can submit their renewal applications at the Drop Boxes located in front of the Northern Region Health Center, Southern Region Health Center, and Castle Mall Building in Mangilao, or send an email to PublicAssistance@dphss.guam.gov.  Information sent to the email will be kept confidential.

For any questions or concerns, please call the DPHSS Bureau of Economic Security of the Division of Public Welfare: 

• BES North (Dededo): (671) 635-7488, (671) 635-7484, (671) 635-7439, (671) 635-7396, (671) 635-7429
• BES South (Inarajan): (671) 828-7542, (671) 828-7534, (671) 828-7524
• BES Central (Castle Mall, Inarajan): (671) 735-7340, (671) 735-7519, (671) 735-7256, (671) 735-7344, (671) 735-7373

Disaster Relief Program – Prugråman Salåppe’ Ayudon I Taotao
All program recipients who are currently eligible and receiving benefits and those who have submitted an application, but have not yet been processed under any of the public assistance programs: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Medicaid; MIP; Cash Assistance Programs (CAP); and Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) Block Grant, will not need to submit a new application form to receive the Disaster Relief Program cash assistance. DPHSS will provide a listing of all enrolled households to the Department of Administration (DOA). DOA will mail checks to the Head of the Household.

How to Apply:

1. Download and complete the “Disaster Relief Cash Assistance Program Application” available on the Department of Public Health and Social Services website (dphss.guam.gov).
2.  Send the signed application by email to PublicAssistance@dphss.guam.gov or submit it to the Drop Box located at Castle Mall in Mangilao, Room 16 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

Eligibility Criteria:

1. Total household’s gross monthly income must be equal to or below the 165% of the Federal Poverty Level
2. Head of Household must be 18 years old and above
3. Must provide proof of 6 months residency on Guam (examples: Landlords Statement, GHURA Contract), Statement of Living Arrangement (if living with individuals other than your family, Mayors Verification)
4. Must provide valid identification documents (Head of Household and its members): Driver’s License, or Guam Identification Card or Passport
5. Copy of each household member’s Social Security Card

DOA will verify eligibility based on the information submitted and mail checks to qualifying applicants. For information regarding check disbursements, please contact DOA at 475-1101, 475-1250 or 475-1221.

DOL Update
Guam Department of Labor’s (DOL) implementation plan for unemployment assistance during the COVID-19 Pandemic has been received by the regional federal labor department. The U.S. Department of Labor is also reviewing Guam DOL’s budget request for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation.

While Guam awaits for USDOL to approve the budget request and the implementation plan, GDOL urges employers to register on hireguam.com and input data on employees affected by COVID-19.  

Employers and business owners who have displaced workers due to COVID-19 are advised to register and email their business or contractor’s license to vosemployer@dol.guam.gov for verification purposes on the department’s virtual one-stop system, hireguam.com. For DOL inquiries, contact Hannah Cho, Special Projects Coordinator at Hannah.Cho@dol.guam.gov or 300-4600.

Economic Impact Payments (EIP) Update
On Wednesday, the Leon Guerrero-Tenorio Administration received $107.8 million of the approved amount of $134.8 million, from the U.S. Department of Treasury for Economic Impact Payments (EIP) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. An additional amount of approximately $27 million is expected to be received as payments are made. With the arrival of these funds, the Department of Revenue and Taxation anticipates stimulus checks could be released early next week. FAQs on the EIP program were released today. DRT’s call center numbers are 635-1840/41/42/57 and 635-7603/04/06. Due to high call volumes, DRT recommends e-mailing any questions to guameip@revtax.guam.gov.

For inquiries on COVID-19, contact 311 through a local number, or call the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10.

GUAM EIP FAQs

GUAM EIP NONFILER FORM -