JIC RELEASE NO. 453 - 100th COVID-19-Related Fatality Reported;Cumulative Results: 59 Test Positive for COVID-19;Guam EPA Resumes Permit Review; Avoid Sharing Unofficial and Unverified Information - GHS OCD

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

100th COVID-19-Related Fatality Reported
The Joint Information Center was notified that Guam’s 100th COVID-19-related fatality occurred at the Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) at approximately 2:56 p.m. The patient was a 58-year-old male with underlying conditions that were further compounded by COVID-19. He was admitted to GMH on October 18, 2020 and tested positive upon admission.

"At the beginning of this pandemic, the models projected we would lose hundreds of lives to COVID-19. While we are thankful that that model did not become our reality, we cannot ignore the magnitude of this death. To his family and friends, Jeff, Lt. Governor Josh, and I offer you our sincerest condolences and sympathies," said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. "We are told weeping may endure for the night, many nights as we know all too well. But we are also told to be strong and courageous--do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Let us do what we must to become worthy of those we laid to rest."

Cumulative Results
To date, there have been a total of 6,234 officially reported cases of COVID-19 with 100 deaths, 1,796 cases in active isolation and 4,338 not in active isolation.

The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) releases the official COVID-19 Dashboard and Situation Report on weekdays, however the DPHSS surveillance team is currently transitioning to a new office location and was unable to generate a full situation report today. An abridged version of the situation report was generated tonight, which does not include case profiles, nor a detailed report of positive cases confirmed by other clinics and laboratories.

Of the 59 cases, 19 cases were identified through contact tracing. Four (4) cases reported recent travel and were identified in quarantine.

As of November 17, 2020, the COVID Area Risk (CAR) Score is 22.5. The CAR Score accounts for the incidence of new cases, how well current testing identifies these cases, and the rate of spread. An ideal CAR Score for Guam would be 5.0 and below. To learn more about the CAR Score, visit Strive for Five.

The following breakdown provides cumulative COVID-19 test results reported to the Joint Information Center on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 and reflects results from Monday, November 16, 2020:

Laboratory	New Cases Reported on Tuesday, November 17	Samples Tested on Monday, November 16	Total Negative Tests (March 12 - November 16)	Total Reported Cases (March 12 - November 17, 2020)
Department of Public Health & Social Services (DPHSS) Guam Public Health Laboratory (GPHL)	59	776	39,287	3,556
Department of Defense (DoD)	N/A	N/A	8,704	578
Diagnostic Laboratory Services (DLS)	N/A	N/A	9,549	896
Guam Memorial Hospital Authority (GMHA) Laboratory	N/A	N/A	6,164	366
Guam National Guard (GUNG) Laboratory	N/A	N/A	17	0
Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) Laboratory	N/A	N/A	4,661	285
Private Clinics	N/A	N/A	3,515	438
Other Laboratories	N/A	N/A	N/A	2
Probable Case	0	39	817	113
AS OF 8:10 PM, TUESDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2020	Total Confirmed: 59	Total Samples Tested: 815	Total Negative Tests: 72,714	Total COVID-19 Cases: 6,234

COVID HOSPITAL CENSUS	Guam Memorial Hospital	Guam Regional Medical City	U.S. Naval Hospital	TOTAL
COVID ADMISSION	61	4	4	69
IN ICU	13	2	1	16
ON VENTILATOR	7	1	1	9

Guam EPA Resumes Permit Review
The Guam Environmental Protection Agency (GEPA) has resumed permit review operations on Monday, November 16, 2020. GEPA previously reported on November 6 that an employee had tested positive for COVID-19, prompting the agency to suspend operations at its administration building. Four employees were identified as close contacts and remain in self quarantine. A contractor performed disinfecting services at the agency’s administration building on November 11, and limited operations have resumed. For more information, please contact 647-GEPA (4372).

Avoid Sharing Unofficial and Unverified Information
The Joint Information Center is aware of unverified messages circulating on chat groups and social media about purported lockdowns, fines, and other changes to the current Safer At Home Advisory. At this time, there is no change to this advisory as described in these viral, unverified messages. The community is reminded to only share verified, official information with others to avoid the spread of misinformation.

GBHWC Crisis Hotline
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.

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. 453 - 100th COVID-19-Related Fatality Reported;Cumulative Results: 59 Test Positive for COVID-19;Guam EPA Resumes Permit Review; Avoid Sharing Unofficial and Unverified Information