JIC RELEASE NO. 34 - Four Test Positive for COVID-19; No Evictions for Public Housing Residents; AAFES Gas Express & Shoppette Hours Adjusted

The Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) tested 40 individuals for COVID-19 on Friday, March 27, 2020 with conclusive results. Four (4) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and 36 tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. 

A total of 348 tests were performed from March 12, 2020 through March 27, 2020 with conclusive results. To date, a total of 49 cases tested positive by DPHSS and 299 cases tested negative for COVID-19 with one death. 

Additionally, there have been two cases that tested positive by the Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) in San Diego as of March 26, 2020, which will be included in the DPHSS overall count:

• 49 positive cases confirmed by DPHSS Guam Public Health Laboratory 

• 2 positive cases confirmed by the NHRC in San Diego

All 50 remaining cases tested by the DPHSS Guam Public Health Laboratory (GPHL) and NHRC are in isolation. 

Profiles of Earlier Confirmed Cases, Not Including Confirmed Cases From Today
Most of Guam COVID-19 known positive cases have epidemiological links to other confirmed cases. Profiles of the previous 45 confirmed cases, including reports of two positive confirmed cases that DPHSS received from the U.S. Naval Hospital that was tested through the Department of Defense and sent off island: 

• Gender:
  • 29 female
  • 18 male
• Residential Location:
  • 14 from the north
  • 20 from central
  • 8 from the south
  • 5 under investigation for place of residence
• Travel History:
  • 7- Philippines
  • 1- Hawaii
  • 1- Japan
  • 1 - U.S. Mainland
• Age Groups:
  • 1 is in their 90s 
  • 3 are in their 80s 
  • 5 is in their 70s
  • 14 are in their 60s
  • 8 are in their 50s 
  • 9 are in their 40s
  • 4 are in their 30s
  • 3 are in their 20s 

No Evictions for Public Housing Residents
Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority (GHURA) offices are closed until further notice. GHURA’s priority is the health and safety of its residents, staff, and the community.

GHURA will NOT be evicting Public Housing residents who are not able to pay their rent at this time. Assisted families in the Public Housing and Section 8 programs currently have the ability to report decreases in income. When GHURA resumes normal operations, renters can report their loss of income and GHURA can adjust the family share of the rent and grant hardship exemptions consistent with applicable regulations and GHURA policies. A decrease in family income is NOT the basis for termination of tenancy action (Section 8 program), or eviction from public housing. Should anyone under the Section 8 program get evicted due to nonpayment, they are entitled to due process, or they can submit an appeal to GHURA. Since GHURA has suspended appeals until operations resume, they cannot be legally displaced. GHURA can address appeals on a case by case basis when normal operations resume.

In light of these extraordinary circumstances, HUD encourages Public Housing Agencies (GHURA) and owners to prevent the displacement of families through eviction which significantly increases the risk of homelessness and overcrowding. GHURA encourages owners to assist in preventing the displacement of families by suspending evictions for nonpayment.

DPHSS Continues Public Welfare Operations
The Bureau of Management Support (BMS) within the Division of Public Welfare is closed to the public, however it will continue its program operations in its office at Castle Mall in Mangilao. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, BMS is implementing the following procedures:

Documents may be submitted via:

• Drop box which is located in front of Castle Mall, Suite 16 in Mangilao, and is available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The drop box is checked every hour by staff; or 

• Email to dphss.bms@gmail.com

Please ensure to include a good contact number and/or email address on all documents.

For more information, contact the Bureau of Management Support at (671) 735-7344 or (671) 735-7256.

Work Programs Section (WPS)

• Recipients participating in the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Program (JOBS) or Guam Employment Training Program (GETP) are excused from participation until the Governor’s Social Isolation Mandate outlined in Executive Order No. 2020-06 is lifted.

• Participant Reimbursement Requests (PRR) for Transportation and/or Work-Related expenses for February 2020 (which was initially due no later than March 31, 2020) will be accepted once the social isolation mandate is lifted.

• Appointments scheduled from March 16 – April 13, 2020 will be rescheduled. Your assigned social worker or case manager will contact you at a later date.

Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) Section

• All child care facilities are closed. 

• Documents and applications are accepted through the drop box or by email.

• Child care payment certifications (calendars and certificates) are accepted through the drop box or by email. 

• Interviews are being conducted via phone for applicants applying for child care services.

Quality Control (QC)
Households that have been selected for quality control (QC) review will be contacted via phone in lieu of a face-to-face interview.

AAFES Gas Express & Shoppette Hours of Operation
Beginning Saturday, March 28, the hours of operations for the AAFES Gas Express and Shoppette, located at the Guam National Guard’s Readiness Center in Barrigada, will change.  They will open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays to Fridays. 

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