JIC RELEASE NO. 229 - Cumulative Results: One Tests Positive for COVID-19; Expanded COVID-19 Testing Continues; SNAP Emergency Allotment Issuance for July;Recall of Blumen Hand Sanitizers

COVID-19 test results are reported from multiple labs at varying times of the day. The Joint Information Center will report cumulative COVID-19 test results once a day, unless unavailable. 

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

Cumulative Results

The following breakdown provides cumulative COVID-19 test results for Saturday, July 18, 2020:

1Beginning March 26, 2020 4Beginning April 23, 2020

2Beginning March 31, 2020 5Beginning April 30, 2020

3Beginning April 15, 2020

To date, there have been a total of 315 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 5 deaths, 222 released from isolation, and 88 active cases. Of those cases, 268 are classified as civilians and 47 are military service members. 

Expanded COVID-19 Testing Continues
The Department of Public Health and Social Services (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 while supplies last. 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:

• Wednesday, July 22, 2020, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Tamuning Elementary School 

• Thursday, July 23, 2020, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Asan-Maina’s Mayor’s Office

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)

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Emergency Allotment Issuance for July 2020
DPHSS announced that the Emergency Allotments (supplements) of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for the month of July 2020 were released July 17. These benefits were electronically loaded into the SNAP recipients EBT cards.

As a reminder, the law authorized the issuance of emergency supplemental benefits to households receiving SNAP up to the maximum allowable SNAP monthly benefit for a household’s size. Calculation is based on the number of eligible household members. Households that already received the maximum benefit for their household’s size will not receive an additional emergency allotment.

Should you have any questions or need additional information, please call the numbers below or send an email to PublicAssistance@dphss.guam.gov. 

• BES North (Dededo) at 635-7488/635-7484/635-7439/635-7396/635-7429

• BES Southern (Inarajan) at 828-7542/828-7534/828-7524

• BES Central (RanCare) at 300-8853/300-8854/300-8850/300-8865

Recall of Blumen Hand Sanitizers 
DPHSS and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) would like to inform the public of a voluntary recall of ten different bottle sizes of Blumen Hand Sanitizers by 4e Brands North America because of potential presence of undeclared methanol (wood alcohol).  

The affected Blumen Hand Sanitizers are packaged in clear plastic bottles with blue caps. The product label contains only blue, white, silver, and red coloring. The lot number is four digits and printed on the bottle. The recalled products are as follows: 

The products were distributed nationwide in the United States through retailers and distributors.  To date, the Division of Environmental Health of DPHSS has determined that affected Blumen Hand Sanitizers were sold at Benson hardware store in Maite. Benson reported that they received 624 bottles of 7.5 fl. oz. and 480 bottles of 17.0 fl. oz. from an off-island supplier; 183 bottles of 7.5. fl. oz. and 145 bottles of the 17.0 fl. oz. were sold prior to the recall. Benson was notified by their supplier on July 15, 2020 and took corrective actions immediately. All affected products were removed from store shelves. 

The Division has not received any local report of injuries or illnesses associated with the use of these recalled commodities. Consumers who have purchased the items listed above are urged to stop using, distributing, or selling these products and return it to the place of purchase. 

Substantial methanol exposure could result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death.  Although all persons using these products on their hands are at risk, young children who accidentally ingest these products and adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute, are most at risk for methanol poisoning. 

Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they experience any problems that may be related to taking or using this product. Questions regarding this recall may be directed to 4e Brands North America LLC by calling 1-888-843-0254 during business hours (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. EST) or emailing 4EBrands8797@stericycle.com. 

For any questions, please contact the Consumer Commodities Program at the Division of Environmental Health at 300-9579.

For the latest information on COVID-19, visit dphss.guam.gov or guamrecovery.com. For inquiries on COVID-19, contact 311 through a local number, or call the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10.