JIC RELEASE NO. 337 - Expanded GDOE School Meal Distribution Program;Registration Closed for Saturday, Sept. 19 Community Testing - 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.

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

Expanded GDOE School Meal Distribution Program
The Guam Department of Education (GDOE) is expanding its school year (SY) 2020-2021 School Meal Distribution Program eligibility. GDOE launched the School Meal Distribution Program on September 4, 2020. Beginning Friday, September 18, 2020, the program will expand to include all children 18 years of age and below from GDOE, private and DODEA schools. Meals are limited in availability and should be picked up at a school within a child’s attendance area.

Who is eligible?
All children 18 years and below, to include public and private school children.

What?
The school meals program will provide one bundle of five days worth of nonperishable breakfast food items per child, and will be distributed at no cost utilizing a drive-through operation, on a first come, first served basis. The school meal program is limited to one meal per child and offers breakfast only at this time. Vehicles are limited to a maximum of 5 food bundles, and walkers are limited to a maximum of 5 food bundles.

When?
The school meal distribution program is operational every Friday only, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., except holidays. Walkers are also accepted.

Where?
The school meal distribution program is available at all GDOE schools.

The GDOE is working to offer this school meal program to ensure students continue to receive nutritious meals throughout the ongoing school closure due to COVID-19. The school meal distribution program is made possible through a waiver received by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Participants are asked to wear a mask when picking up meals through a drive-through system. GDOE and Sodexo staff will be on hand to facilitate the school meal distribution. Drivers should remain in their vehicles and follow instructions to facilitate a smooth and safe distribution process. Walkers must also wear masks.

The distribution will provide each school site with the average daily meals that would be distributed to students based on data from last school year. Numbers for the following weeks will be adjusted up or down based on the demand at each school site.

Registration Closed for Saturday, Sept. 19 Community Testing
The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS), in collaboration with the Government of Guam and the Mayors’ Council of Guam, is providing COVID-19 testing to the first 200 people who have registered with the Umatac Mayor’s Office. Testing is scheduled for Saturday, September 19 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Umatac Mayor’s Office. Registration for this event is now closed. All others who have not registered will be turned away.

For the safety of the community and the nurses, only four (4) people per vehicle are allowed to be tested. Testing is free and open to the first 200 participants that pre-register with the Umatac Mayor’s Office. No symptoms are needed to qualify for testing. Individuals who have registered are asked to bring an ID, if one is available.

To receive individual COVID-19 test results, send a request to covidresults@dphss.guam.gov. Further instructions will be provided via email to patients before COVID-19 test results are sent.

Those who were unable to register for Saturday’s testing and are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, are advised to call their health care provider. If a patient does not have a regular health care provider, they can call the Northern Region Community Health Center (NRCHC) at (671) 635-7525/6 to schedule an appointment. The NRCHC COVID-19 testing is available by appointment only.

Those experiencing symptoms can also call 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) 480-7859/83
(671) 480-6760/63
(671) 687-7321
(671) 685-0358
(671) 687-6170 (ADA Dedicated Number)

The DPHSS Medical Triage Hotline is available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Sundays. Missed calls or calls going to voicemail will be returned.

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. 337 - Expanded GDOE School Meal Distribution Program;Registration Closed for Saturday, Sept. 19 Community Testing