JIC RELEASE NO. 177 - DPHSS Issues Guidance Memos 2020-19, 2020-20; Expanded COVID-19 Testing Continues - GHS OCD

To date, there have been 185 cases confirmed through COVID-19 testing provided with 5 deaths, 168 released from isolation, and 12 active cases. As this is an evolving situation, information is subject to change with little to no notice. For updated information on COVID-19 cases on Guam, visit the COVID-19 Dashboard and Situation Report at http://dphss.guam.gov/covid-19/.

DPHSS Issues Guidance Memos 2020-19, 2020-20
Today, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) released DPHSS Guidance Memo 2020-19 relative to additional businesses and organizations permitted to operate under Pandemic Condition of Readiness (PCOR) 2.

Effective Monday, June 15, 2020 at 8:00 a.m., the following businesses and activities are allowed:

Childcare facilities at no more than 25% occupancy rate;
Therapeutic massage establishments;
Movie theatres;
Fishing charters and other similar businesses; and
Non-organized contact physical activities and sports.
- Sporting events, tournaments, and other similar activities are prohibited.

Effective Friday, June 19, 2020 at 8:00 a.m., the following businesses and activities are allowed to operate:

Bars and taverns at no more than 25% occupancy rate; and
Bowling alleys

DPHSS also issued Guidance Memo 2020-20 relative to the minimum requirements for the opening of childcare facilities, which are based on guidance from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The identified businesses and organizations may proceed to operate after industry-specific or organization-specific plans are developed and submitted with COVID-19 prevention and control measures outlined in the document Minimum Pandemic Workplace Operational Requirements and other requirements set forth by DPHSS. Plans must be emailed to PCOR2Plans@dphss.guam.gov. For additional questions, please contact the Division of Environmental Health at 300-9579 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Expanded COVID-19 Testing Continues
DPHSS, in collaboration with the Government of Guam, the Mayors Council of Guam, private, and federal agencies, continues expanded COVID-19 testing.

Testing is free and open to the public. No symptoms are needed to qualify for testing. If your village is not listed, please proceed to a neighboring village for testing. Please bring an I.D., if one is available. The expanded testing schedule is as follows:

COVID-19 Drive-Through Testing:

Tuesday, June 16, 2020, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Piti Mayor’s Office
- Free and open to Piti residents
Wednesday, June 17, 2020, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. at the Santa Rita Senior Center
- Free and open to Santa Rita residents
Thursday, June 18, 2020, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the St. Anthony Church grounds, Tamuning
- Free and open to Tamuning and Tumon residents
Tuesday, June 23, 2020, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the GPD Police Koban Parking Lot (next to Barrigada Community Center)
- Free and open to Barrigada residents
Wednesday, June 24, 2020, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Agana Heights Mayor’s Office
- Free and open to Agana Heights residents

If you are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, please call your health care provider. If a patient does not have a regular health care provider, they can call any of the Community Health Centers or the DPHSS Medical Triage Hotline phone numbers listed below to report symptoms and obtain guidance from clinicians, or call 311 and dial option number 1.

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

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

Click Here to View DPHSS Guidance Memorandum 2020-19 Additional Businesses and Organization...

Click Here to View DPHSS Guidance Memorandum 2020-20 Minimum Requirements for Operations of...

X Flooding is a temporary overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. Flooding may happen with only a few inches of water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. There are many possible causes of floods including heavy rain, coastal storms and storm surge, waterway overflow from being blocked with debris, or overflow of levees, dams, or waste water systems. Flooding can occur slowly over many days or happen very quickly with little or no warning, called flash floods.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/floods

Wildfire

Regularly clean the roof and gutters.
Maintain an area approximately 30’ away from you home that is free of anything that will burn, such as wood piles, dried leaves, newspapers and other brush.
Connect garden hoses long enough to reach any area of the home and fill garbage cans, tubs, or other large containers with water.
Review your homeowner's insurance policy and also prepare/update a list of your home's contents.

Fire Weather

Turn on your TV/radio. You’ll get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
Know where to go. If you are ordered to evacuate, know the route to take and have plan of where you will go. Check-in with your friends and family.
Keep your car fueled, in good condition, and stocked with emergency supplies and a change of clothes.

Drought

Conserve water

Take shorter showers.

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Run the washer less frequently and only when you have a full load.
Water your lawn less frequently and do so when the temperature is cooler in the early morning or late evening.
When you run the tap to heat or cool water, keep a pitcher to store the water and use it to water plants.
Avoid washing your car.

Practice fire prevention

Don't set off fireworks when conditions are dry.
Deposit cigarette butts in the proper receptacle to avoid starting a
Pour water over camp fires and backyard fire pits to ensure they are completely out before leaving them unattended.

Follow directions from local officials. If there are restrictions on water usage, be sure to heed them.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/wildfires and https://www.ready.gov/drought

X
Typhoons/Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over the water and move toward land. Threats from typhoons/hurricanes include high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, and rip currents.

“Hurricanes” form in the Atlantic Northeast Pacific region and “Typhoons” form in the Northwest Pacific Region. These large storms are call cyclones in other parts of the world.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.

JIC RELEASE NO. 177 - DPHSS Issues Guidance Memos 2020-19, 2020-20; Expanded COVID-19 Testing Continues