JIC RELEASE NO. 341 - Thirty-first COVID-19 Related Fatality; Cumulative Results: Thirty-two Test Positive for COVID-19; Profiles of Confirmed Cases; GBHWC Crisis Hotline Available 24/7 - GHS OCD

The Joint Information Center was notified that Guam’s thirty-first COVID-19-related fatality occurred at the Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) this afternoon at approximately 4:48 p.m. (ChST). The patient was a 77-year-old female and had underlying health conditions. She was admitted to GMH on August 27 and tested positive during initial work-up.

“With each passing due to COVID-19, the families are not the only ones at a loss—our entire island community suffers as well. Jeff, Lt. Governor Josh, and I express our deepest condolences and sympathies to her family, friends, and loved ones,” said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. “Almost every day of this month, we have announced the death of one of our own, and we are reminded of just how fragile life can be. Let us continue to treat each other with love and compassion. As we grieve, we should remember our blessings and remain unwavering in our resolve to beat COVID-19.”

Cumulative Results
The following breakdown provides cumulative COVID-19 test results reported to the Joint Information Center on Thursday, September 17 and reflects results from Wednesday, September 16:

Laboratory	New Cases Reported on Thursday, September 17	Samples Tested on Wednesday, September 16	Total Negative Tests (March 12 - September 17)	Total Confirmed Cases (March 12 - September 17, 2020)
Department of Public Health & Social Services (DPHSS) Guam Public Health Laboratory (GPHL)	16	175	23,054	927
Department of Defense (DoD)	2	59	6,394	449
Diagnostic Laboratory Services (DLS)	6	81	6,304	323
Guam Memorial Hospital Authority (GMHA) Laboratory	1	32	4,506	176
Guam National Guard (GUNG) Laboratory	0	0	17	0
Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) Laboratory	4	34	2,251	101
Private Clinics	3	21	682	67
Other Laboratories	N/A	N/A	N/A	2
AS OF 7:40 PM, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020	Total Confirmed: 32	Total Samples Tested: 402	Total Negative Tests: 43,208	Total COVID-19 Cases: 2,045

Of the 32 newly confirmed cases, 16 cases were identified through contact tracing.

To date, there have been a total of 2,045 officially reported cases of COVID-19 with 587 cases in active isolation and 1,427 not in active isolation. Of those cases, 1,782 are classified as civilians and 263 are military service members.

As of today, September 17, there have been 31 COVID-19-related fatalities. One COVID-19 case was reported deceased at GMH on September 17. Though the fatality was reported by the Joint Information Center today, it will not be officially included in the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) COVID-19 Situation Report until tomorrow, September 18.

Profiles of Confirmed Cases

STATUS

MEDICAL STATUS

GENDER

RESIDENTIAL LOCATION

TRAVEL HISTORY3

AGE GROUP

Civilian: 1,782

Military: 263

Stable: 543

Hospitalized1:

GMH: 43

ICU: 19

GRMC: 1

ICU: 0

Naval Hospital: 0

Released2: 1,427

Deaths: 31

Female: 912

Male: 1,133

North: 1,043

Central: 575

South: 323

Homeless: 04

Non-resident: 52

Dubai: 02

Japan: 01

Philippines: 20

Singapore: 01

U.S.: 105

Mexico: 01

Identified in Quarantine4: 102

90+: 05

80-89: 23

70-79: 60

60-69: 168

50-59: 295

40-49: 320

30-39: 422

20-29: 491

10-19: 169

0-9: 92

1Hospitalization rate is based on intake numbers reported to the JIC. This number may be subject to change.

2Some cases that were previously released from isolation have tested positive through follow-up testing

3Some cases traveled to more than one country

4Includes home/self-quarantine and quarantine in a Government of Guam facility

GBHWC Crisis Hotline Available 24/7
The Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center (GBHWC) has a Crisis Hotline that is available 24/7 at (671) 647-8833/4. For those feeling anxious, stressed, overwhelmed or are needing to talk to someone, GBHWC has experienced providers available and ready to assist the community with any heightened stress and anxiety experienced as a result of COVID-19.

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.

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. 341 - Thirty-first COVID-19 Related Fatality; Cumulative Results: Thirty-two Test Positive for COVID-19; Profiles of Confirmed Cases; GBHWC Crisis Hotline Available 24/7