JIC RELEASE NO. 428 - Cumulative Results: 3 Test Positive for COVID-19; DPHSS Draft Enforcement Rules Public Hearing on November 4; Additional Food Commodities Distribution At Yigo Mayor's Office on November 3; Permit Required For Open Burning In Resident

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

Cumulative Results
To date, there have been a total of 4,693 officially reported cases of COVID-19 with 79 deaths, 1,948 cases in active isolation and 2,666 not in active isolation.  

The following breakdown provides cumulative COVID-19 test results reported to the Joint Information Center on Monday, November 2 and reflects results from Sunday, November 1:

DPHSS Draft Enforcement Rules Public Hearing on November 4
The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) will convene a second public hearing on Wednesday, November 4, 2020, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. via Zoom Conference. The purpose of this hearing is to receive public comment on the DPHSS Draft Rules Governing the Enforcement of Public Health Guidance and Directives during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

To participate in the public hearing, click on the following link address:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84793589778 or use Zoom Meeting ID: 847 9358 9778. The Zoom Conference is limited to the first 100 participants. 

Individuals may submit written testimony via email to publichealth@dphss.guam.gov. Written testimony will be accepted until Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. The public hearing will also be streamed live on DPHSS’ Facebook Page.

Additional Food Commodities Distribution at Yigo Mayor's Office on November 3
The Guam Department of Education (GDOE), State Agency for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Nutrition Service (FNS) is continuing the distribution of food commodities in partnership with the local mayors and community organizations. 

One hundred bags of food commodities (egg noodles, elbow macaroni, cereal, instant milk, canned pears, peaches, beef stew, and lentils to) will be distributed on a first come, first served basis at the Yigo Mayor’s Office on Tuesday, November 3 at 9:00 a.m. until supplies last. The distribution is available to Yigo residents only. Face masks must be worn. 

Permit Required for Open Burning in Residential Areas
The Joint Information Center has received numerous reports about open burning in residential areas from multiple village mayors. The community is reminded that no open burning can take place without a permit from the Guam Fire Department (GFD). Residents who possess an open burning permit are reminded that the destruction by burning, or the attempted destruction by burning, of any garbage, dead animals or other offensive substances, where the burning of which may give off foul and noisome odor is prohibited. Residents are also reminded to adhere to the conditions of the GFD permit and to be mindful of neighbors in their immediate surroundings who may have respiratory ailments which could be exasperated by smoke and odors caused by open burning, or in home isolation due to COVID-19.

Burning vegetative matter such as trees, brush and grass is authorized by the Guam Environmental Protection Agency (GEPA) Administrator as long as a permit has been issued by GFD. For more information, residents are urged to contact GFD’s Fire Prevention Bureau at 646-8810, or GEPA’s Air Pollution Control Program  at 300-4751. Residents can also contact their village fire stations for more information on permits requirements.

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. 

Click Here to View DRAFT COVID-19 Public Health Enforcement Rules