JIC RELEASE NO. 272 - Two Additional COVID-19 Cases at Southern High; Two GPD Officers Test Positive for COVID-19 - GHS OCD

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.

To date, there have been a total of 577 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 5 deaths, 353 released from isolation, and 219 active cases. Of those cases, 503 are classified as civilians and 74 are military service members.

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

Two Additional COVID-19 Cases at Southern High
On Monday, August 17, 2020, the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) became aware of a confirmed COVID-19 case at both Southern High School (SHS) and Tiyan High School (THS). On Tuesday, August 18, 2020, the GDOE learned of two additional COVID-19 cases at SHS, bringing the total number of confirmed cases at SHS to three.

GDOE is working closely with the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS). The contact tracing effort is ongoing and close contacts of the confirmed cases will be contacted directly by DPHSS. A close contact is an individual who has come in face-to-face contact with a confirmed COVID-19 individual for at least 10 minutes or more and within six feet, or who has had direct contact with infectious secretions of the confirmed COVID-19 individual (e.g. being coughed on). Areas of the SHS campus have been identified for cleaning and disinfecting and will be off limits to personnel until those processes are complete. Parents are asked to contact the school via email at shsinfo@gdoe.net while the main office is closed for cleaning.

All GDOE employees are reminded to adhere to health and safety protocols while on campus. Not only are schools cleaned and sanitized daily, but other safety precautions are in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to include the following: required face coverings for all students and staff; temperature screening upon arrival; 6 feet physical distancing; regular cleaning of frequently touched surfaces and common areas; and encouraging employees to wash hands and sanitize often.

Two GPD Officers Test Positive for COVID-19
On Tuesday August 18, 2020, the Guam Police Department (GPD) was made aware of two police officers who had tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently in home isolation. The two officers are assigned to GPD’s specialized units, which have minimal contact to the greater community.

GPD is working alongside the DPHSS with ongoing contact tracing with GPD personnel who may have been exposed to the two officers.

In line with GPD’s COVID-19 Operations and to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, should any member of the community wishing to file a complaint with any of our four respective precincts, are asked to call the precincts and wait in their car for further instructions from our officers. The following are the telephone numbers to the respective precincts:

Dededo Precinct Command: 632-9808/11
Tumon-Tamuning Precinct Command: 649-6330
Central Precinct Command: 475-8541
Southern Precinct Command: 472-8915
Police Dispatch: 472-8911/8615/7

In light of the island moving into PCOR1, the Guam Police Department remains committed in providing safety and security to the greater community and will continue to respond to calls or any emergency needs.

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.

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. 272 - Two Additional COVID-19 Cases at Southern High; Two GPD Officers Test Positive for COVID-19