JIC RELEASE NO. 37 - Profiles of Earlier Confirmed Cases; GDOE Expands Grab-N-Go Program; DPHSS Updates

The Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) tested 23 individuals for COVID-19 on Sunday, March 29, 2020 with conclusive results. One (1) tested positive through DPHSS and 22 tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. The DPHSS overall count also includes two positive cases that were tested by the Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) in San Diego. Additional results will be provided later this evening once today’s test results are finalized. 

Preliminary Profiles of Earlier Confirmed Cases
Most of Guam COVID-19 known positive cases have epidemiological links to other confirmed cases. Profiles of the previous 55 confirmed cases, which includes 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: 

GDOE Expands Grab-N-Go School Meal Program 
Starting Tuesday, March 31, 2020, the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) will expand the Grab-N-Go School Meal Program to include a new distribution site at Maria Ulloa Elementary School. Additionally, effective Tuesday, the program will begin to offer both breakfast and lunch every weekday (except holidays), and will also distribute meals during spring break from April 6-10, 2020. The 12 school distribution sites are listed below:

The Grab-N-Go School Meals Program was made possible through a waiver approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The program provides no cost meals to all children ages 18 and under, to include children from both public and private schools. The program is available Monday through Friday (except holidays) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. To date, the GDOE has distributed roughly 50,000 meals to students and families.

USDA Warns of Scams Targeting SNAP Recipients
The Division of Public Welfare, Bureau of Economic Security of the Department of Public Health and Social Services advises participants of its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that a fraud alert has been issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

USDA warns SNAP recipients to be on the lookout for potential scammers using the COVID-19 situation to steal personal information. USDA is issuing this warning after receiving reports of several possible SNAP fraud attempts. Examples of confidential information include social security number, bank information, or a participant’s SNAP EBT card or PIN number. In one potential scam, a website asked SNAP recipients to enter their personal and bank account information to qualify for COVID-related monetary assistance. If SNAP participants are unsure if a request for information is legitimate, USDA advises they contact their local SNAP office. To stay on top of potential scams, please visit USDA’s SNAP scam alert webpage at https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/scam-alerts.

If you believe you are the victim of identity theft, contact your local police department regarding procedures for filing a report. You may also file a consumer complaint online with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at https://www.ftc.gov. FTC is the federal agency responsible for protecting consumers from identity theft scams. For any questions or concerns regarding this alert, please call the Investigation and Recovery Office (IRO) under the Bureau of Management Support (BMS) within the Division of Public Welfare at 735-7344.

COVID-19 Enforcement of Executive Order 2020-03 through 2020-07
DPHSS reminds island businesses, which are deemed “non-essential” pursuant to Executive Orders 2020-05 and 2020-06, that they are prohibited from operating until Monday, April 13, 2020. Essential businesses may continue to operate; however, they are to comply with the following orders

1. Retail operations, including “eating and drinking establishments” that prepare and serve food but only for delivery or carry out, must enforce social distancing measures by requiring the customers or patrons be separated by at least six (6) feet from other customers or patrons within the retail area. In order to ensure compliance with social distancing measures, businesses should control the number of individuals who enter their facility at any given time by posting personnel for the purpose of guiding customers/patrons accordingly.

2. Provide access to both employees and customers/patrons to hand-washing facilities with soap and water.

3. Post a sign at a conspicuous place at all public entrances that clearly notifies all that any person experiencing respiratory illness, including fever or cough, is prohibited from entering.

DPHSS, together with the Department of Revenue and Taxation, and with assistance of the Guam Police Department, continue to enforce the provisions of the Executive Orders. For questions, or to report potential violations, please contact the Division of Environmental Health at 300-9579, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

For inquiries on COVID-19, local numbers can dial 311 or contact the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10.