JIC RELEASE NO. 18 - Two Positive Cases for COVID-19 - GHS OCD

The Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) tested 19 individuals for COVID-19 on Friday, March 20, 2020. Two tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and 17 tested negative for SARS-CoV-2.

A total of 100 tests were performed from March 12, 2020 through March 20, 2020 with conclusive results. To date, a total of 14 cases tested positive and 86 cases tested negative for COVID-19. All 14 confirmed cases remain in isolation.

The Government of Guam (GovGuam) is aggressively implementing its planned COVID-19 response to identify and contain transmission of COVID-19 in Guam. With any change in status, anticipate timely notification. As part of the response, Public Health officials may be calling residents from a local landline or mobile phone number to obtain further information. This is not a scam. DPHSS does not ask for any financial details during the call.

Profiles of Earlier Confirmed Cases
Most of Guam COVID-19 known positive cases have epidemiological links to other confirmed cases. Of the previous 12 confirmed cases, not including confirmed cases from today:

Five (5) are of the ages 60 and above;
Two (2) are in their 50s;
Three (3) are in their 40s;
Two (2) are in their 30s;
Five (5) of the 12 cases are travel related.

Stop the Spread: Stay Home if Sick, Keep a Minimum of Six Feet Between You and Others
There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. Stop the spread:

Stay home when you are sick. Keep away from others who are sick and limit face-to-face contact with others.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

ADA Assistance Available Through Medical Triage Hotline Number for COVID-19
Testing for COVID-19 is ONLY available for people who meet the testing criteria. If you are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, please call your healthcare 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:

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

To comply with ADA requirements, DPHSS is providing captions and text messaging. These medical triage hotline numbers are operational daily, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and are limited to medical-related inquiries only.

DPHSS Announces that Shelters Remain Open, Services to Continue
DPHSS announces that the following shelters are open and will continue to provide services to clients:

Alee Shelter I
Alee Shelter II
Sanctuary Inc.
Guma San Jose

For more information, contact DPHSS Bureau of Social Services Administration at (671) 475-2653 or (671) 475-2672.

Salvation Army Contact Numbers
The Salvation Army Guam Corps continues to help and serve the community. While the Salvation Army does not currently have a food delivery program, they continue to serve the community. To maximize social distancing, the community is urged to call ahead to make an appointment to prevent people congregating while they wait by contacting the following numbers:

The Salvation Army Food Bank: (671) 477-9855
Family Services Center: (671) 477-3529

The Lighthouse Recovery Center is not allowing visitors at this time. Outpatient services are on hold until further notice.

Stay Up to Date with Reputable Sources
It is important to note that the situation can change quickly. The community is reminded to only share official notices and visit the following links for the most up-to-date information:

CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
DPHSS website: http://dphss.guam.gov/2019-novel-coronavirus-2019-n-cov/
GHS/OCD website: https://ghs.guam.gov/coronavirus-covid-19

For media inquiries, contact the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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. 18 - Two Positive Cases for COVID-19