JIC RELEASE NO. 160 - One COVID-19 Case Reported from GMHA; Profiles of Earlier Confirmed Cases; June Food Commodities Distribution; Expanded COVID-19 Testing Continues; DPHSS Tuberculosis Control Processing Section; Information for Motorists Operating...

The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) confirmed one positive case of COVID-19 last night and was reported by the Joint Information Center. This case was identified through community testing and did not report contact to a confirmed case. 

An additional case was reported today from the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority (GMHA). The case reported by GMHA recently traveled and was identified while staying in a government quarantine facility. The case tested positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing at GMHA.

COVID-19 test results are reported from multiple labs at varying times of the day. Cumulative test results will be provided this evening once all tests from today are finalized.

To date, there have been 179 cases confirmed through COVID-19 testing provided with 5 deaths, 162 released from isolation, and 12 active cases. As this is an evolving situation, information is subject to change with little to no notice. For updated information on COVID-19 cases on Guam, visit the COVID-19 Dashboard and Situation Report at http://dphss.guam.gov/covid-19/. 

Profiles of Earlier Confirmed Cases

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

**Some cases traveled to more than one country

June Food Commodities Distribution
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), in collaboration with Pacific Unlimited Incorporated and Matson, Guam, will be issuing USDA Families to Farmers food boxes and Disaster Household Distribution food commodity bags at three locations next week. 

Disaster Household Distribution Next Week
TEFAP Disaster Household Distribution (DHD) is available to all families impacted by COVID-19. The final two DHD distribution dates are June 9 and June 11. Recipients will receive one bag of TEFAP-DHD food commodities and one Farmers to Families food box of fresh fruits or vegetables. Food commodities include items such as fresh apples and oranges, beans, rice, canned fruits, sauces, tuna, salmon, pork, beef and chicken. Distribution will take place on the following dates and locations:

Tuesday, June 9, 2020: 

• Mount Lam Lam in Agat-Umatac from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.  

• Dededo Farmer’s Market from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. 

Thursday, June 11, 2020: 

• Tiyan Upper Baseball Field from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.  

• Yona St. Francis Church from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. 

A total of 5,000 bags of commodities will be distributed for the week on a first come, first served basis, while supplies last. Distribution may end early if all available resources are distributed before 10 a.m.

Participants are asked to follow the following program guidelines:

• Please be patient;

• Follow instructions and have valid identification ready;

• Wear a mask at all times;

• Remain in your vehicle;

• Proceed with caution; and

• Follow traffic directions and signage.

TEFAP closed June 15-19; Normal TEFAP Operations Resume June 23
TEFAP operations will be suspended from June 15-19, 2020 in order to replenish commodity resources and to transition back to operations at the Piti warehouse. Normal TEFAP operations will resume at the GDOE Piti warehouse beginning on Tuesday, June 23, 2020. The TEFAP distribution program is available to economically vulnerable families that participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). 

Normal TEFAP food commodities distribution will take place every Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. using a drive-through food to trunk system at the GDOE warehouse in Piti. Participants are reminded to continue to follow all safety guidelines.

For more information, please call the GDOE Food & Nutrition Services at 300-2491. 

Expanded COVID-19 Testing Continues
​​​​​​​DPHSS, in collaboration with the Government of Guam, the Mayors Council of Guam, private, and federal agencies continue expanded COVID-19 testing. 

Testing is free and open to the public. No symptoms are needed to qualify for testing. If your village is not listed, please proceed to a neighboring village for testing. Please bring an I.D., if one is available. The expanded testing schedule is as follows:

COVID-19 Drive-Through Testing:

• Friday, June 5, 2020, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Sinajana Mayor's office

  • Free and open to Sinajana residents

• Monday, June 8, 2020, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. at the DPHSS Central Public Health Center, Barrigada

  • Free and open to Palau residents

• Tuesday, June 9, 2020, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the DPHSS Southern Regional Community Health Center parking lot, Inarajan

  • Free and open to Inarajan residents

• Wednesday, June 10, 2020, 9 a.m. -12 p.m. at the Mongmong Church

  • Free and open to Mongmong-Toto-Maite residents

• Thursday, June 11, 2020, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. at the Merizo Senior Center 

  • Free and open to Merizo residents

• Tuesday, June 16, 2020, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Piti Mayor’s Office

  • Free and open to Piti residents

• Wednesday, June 17, 2020, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. at the Santa Rita Senior Center

  • Free and open to Santa Rita residents

• Thursday, June 18, 2020, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the St. Anthony Church grounds, Tamuning

  • Free and open to Tamuning and Tumon residents

• Tuesday, June 23, 2020, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the GPD Police Koban Parking Lot (next to Barrigada Community Center)

  • Free and open to Barrigada residents

If you are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, please call your health care provider. If a patient does not have a regular health care provider, they can call any of the Community Health Centers or the DPHSS Medical Triage Hotline Phone Numbers listed below to report symptoms and obtain guidance from clinicians, or call 311 and dial option number 1.

• (671) 480-7859

• (671) 480-6760/3

• (671) 480-7883 

• (671) 687-6170 (ADA Dedicated Number)

Reopening of DPHSS Tuberculosis Control Processing Section 
Tuberculosis (TB) Control Program's Processing Section, which issues TB clearances for school and work, began operations on a limited basis on Monday, June 1, 2020. The TB Control Program Office is located at the Northern Region Community Health Center (NRCHC) in Dededo. The hours of operation are 8 am - 11:30 am, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on a first-come first-served basis. Operations are limited to processing a maximum of 30 clients with completed documents. 

Clients must line up at the designated area in the front of the NRCHC. The DPHSS TB staff will assess client documents and provide a queue number that will serve as a pass to enter the facility. Clients must bring their photo identification and a birth certificate if getting a clearance for a minor child. 

The Latent TB Questionnaire and Health Certificate Application Form is available in the front of the NRCHC and available for download at www.dphss.guam.gov.

Applicants that are feeling ill or experiencing any COVID-19-like symptoms are not to enter the premises. Wearing of face masks is mandatory and proper social distancing will be implemented. 

For more information, contact the TB Control Program office at 687-4388 or email tb.program@dphss.guam.gov. 

Information for Motorists Operating with Expired Driver's Licenses
The Department of Revenue and Taxation (DRT) have issued the following guidance in Volume 3 of the DRT COVID-19 Services Series for expired driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations:

For driver's licenses which expire from March 16 through July 31, 2020, all late fees will be waived as long as renewal is done by August 3, 2020. Driver's licenses which expired prior to March 16, late fees for the period from March 16 – June 30, will be waived as long as renewal is done by July 15, 2020. Any other late fees will apply. 

Any vehicle registrations which expire in March, April, May, and June 2020 will be extended through July 31, 2020. Late fees will be waived for the period as long as renewal is done by August 3, 2020. For vehicle registrations which expired prior to March 2020, late fees will apply. For more information on Volume 3 of the DRT COVID-19 Services Series, visit https://www.guamtax.com/frontpagenotices/covid19/2020_DRT_COVID-19_Services_Series_Volume_3.pdf 

The Guam Police Department (GPD), working with DRT, will allow motorists with Driver's Licenses expiration dates reflecting between March through July 31, 2020, to travel on the roadways without incident. GPD will also allow motorists with vehicle registrations reflecting expiration dates between March through June 30, 2020, to travel on the roadways without incident. Any expired driver’s licenses or vehicle registrations that expired prior to March 2020 will not be included in this exemption and a citation may be issued. This is subject to change at any time, in accordance with DRT guidelines.

For inquiries on COVID-19, contact 311 through a local number, or call the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10.