JIC RELEASE NO. 628 - DPHSS Issues Guidance Memo 2021-11; Two of 369 Test Positive for COVID-19; UPDATED COVID-19 Vaccination Schedule; UPDATED: COVID-19 Community Testing; Food Commodities Distribution Schedule

DPHSS Issues Guidance Memo 2021-11
Today, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) issued DPHSS Guidance Memo 2021-11, relative to requirements for public viewing of decedents at residences so as to minimize the potential for transmission of COVID-19, effective April 9, 2021. It is supplemented by all applicable requirements and restrictions set forth in the Governor’s Executive Orders and DPHSS Guidance Memoranda, including DPHSS Guidance Memoranda 2020-30, 2020-33, and 2021-10. General restrictions and requirements are as follows:

1. Public viewing of decedents at residences is limited to no more than 50 persons within the household, including the members of the household, at any given time. 

2. The head of household or assigned designee will ensure attendees, in excess of 50 persons, will remain in their vehicles until called upon to pay their respects to the Deceased.

3. Attendees who do not live in the same household must maintain a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

4. All attendees must wear face masks at all times, with exceptions provided only for those individuals who are exempt pursuant to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for face coverings for certain population and situations, including those with certain medical conditions, such as asthma and COPD 

5. Public viewing shall be limited to no more than four (4) hours.

6. Provide separate entrance and exit for attendees.

7. Discourage holding or shaking hands, hugging, or kissing.

8. Discourage the sharing of commonly used objects, such as religious aids and mics.

9. Prepackaged meals in take-away boxes (to go boxes) may be provided to attendees only upon departure from the residence.

10. A written record is maintained by the head of household or designee for a period of 30 days, which provides the following information that must be readily available to DPHSS, when requested: name of attendee(s); date and time of the visit of each attendee; and contact number or email. 

Prior to the start and the conclusion of the public viewing, the head of household and family members should thoroughly clean and disinfect the residence using disinfectant cleaning supplies according to CDC guidelines.

Health and hygiene requirements include:

1. Provide hand-washing stations (properly equipped with hand soap, water, and single-use paper towels) or hand sanitizers (containing at least 60% alcohol) for attendees to use upon entering and exiting the residence.

2. Provide and place disposable facial tissues within reach and bins for used tissues.

3. Practice extra precautions with high-touch areas that could be potential sources for contamination.

4. Put hand sanitizer next to the register book with a sign encouraging its use before signing.  

Mass or buffet feeding; on-site consumption of prepackaged meals in take-away boxes (to go boxes) and congregational singing are prohibited.

For further questions, contact the Division of Environmental Health at 300-9579 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m, Monday through Friday, excluding weekends and holidays, or email, dphss-deh@dphss.guam.gov.

Results: Two New Cases of COVID-19

Two (2) new cases of COVID-19 were identified out of 369 tests performed Wednesday, April 7. To date, there have been a total of 7,830 officially reported cases of COVID-19 with 136 deaths, 28 cases in active isolation, and 7,666 not in active isolation. The CAR Score is 0.2.

UPDATED COVID-19 Vaccination Schedule

COVID-19 vaccination clinics continue at the locations and times below. Bring a photo ID. Those due for their second dose are reminded to bring their COVID-19 immunization card. 

COVID-19 Community Testing on Friday, April 9 and Monday, April 12
No symptoms are needed to qualify for testing. Bring a photo ID. Testing for travel purposes will not be conducted at these community testing sites. Individuals seeking COVID-19 testing to travel off-island may contact the DPHSS Northern Region Community Health Center at 635-7525/6 to schedule an appointment. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and provide government-issued identification to validate age. The parent or legal guardian will also be required to sign a consent form on behalf of the minor to be tested for COVID-19. For the safety of the community and nurses, only four (4) people per vehicle are allowed to be tested. 

Food Commodities Distribution Continues

GDOE, State Agency for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) under the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Nutrition Service distribution will be available to village constituents only. 

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. 

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