JIC RELEASE NO. 178 - Report Unemployment Fraud to GDOL; Reporting Requirements for SNAP; Expanded COVID-19 Testing Continues; CDC Recommends the Use of Cloth Face Coverings - GHS OCD

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 185 cases confirmed through COVID-19 testing provided with 5 deaths, 169 released from isolation, and 11 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/.

Report Unemployment Fraud to GDOL
The Guam Department of Labor (GDOL) is releasing updated resources for the general public to prevent and report fraud or misuse regarding the unemployment benefits covered by the CARES Act—the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program and the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program.

Claimant fraud may include knowingly submitting false information (social security, income, etc.), collecting benefits when ineligible, certifying for benefits while not being able and available to work, or intentionally collecting full benefits while not reporting wages or income.

The community is advised to report unemployment fraud, waste, and abuse to protect local and federal tax dollars to pua.fraud@dol.guam.gov. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) from the U.S. Department of Labor also encourages the public to report wrongdoing involving fraud, waste, and abuse for all Labor programs and operations to the OIG Hotline at 800-347-3756.

For more information, visit their website at www.oig.dol.gov. Call 311, option 6, or follow GDOL on social media for updates on Facebook (@guamdol) and Instagram (@dolguam).

Reporting Requirements for SNAP
The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) reminds recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that a change report must be submitted to the Bureau of Economic Security (BES) when a household’s income exceeds the 130% Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for their household’s size. The change report is due by the 10th day of the following month in which the change occurred. For example, for this fiscal year, the 130% FPL for household size of one is $1,354. If the household’s gross income exceeds $1,354 in June 2020, the household is required to submit a change report by July 10, 2020.

In addition, the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Paycheck Protection Program benefits are countable income under the SNAP as per Food and Nutrition Service guidance, which may reduce recipient’s current benefit.

Below is the SNAP Table at 130% FPL for Fiscal Year 2020.

Household Size	Gross Monthly Income Limit 130% FPL
1	$1,354
2	$1,832
3	$2,311
4	$2,790
5	$3,269
6	$3,748
7	$4,227
8	$4,705
9	$5,184
10	$5,663
11	$6,142
12	$6,621
13	$7,100
14	$7,579
15	$8,058
Each Additional Member: $479

For more information, please call the following numbers:

BES North (Dededo) at 635-7488/635-7484/635-7439/635-7396/635-7429
BES Southern (Inarajan) at 828-7542/828-7534/828-7524
BES Central (Ran-Care Building) at 638-4506/4507/727-5342/727-5174/727-5320/727-5282 /727-5279/727-5233/735-5213/735-5910/735/5915.

Expanded COVID-19 Testing Continues
The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS), in collaboration with the Government of Guam, the Mayors Council of Guam, private, and federal agencies, continues 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:

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
Wednesday, June 24, 2020, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Agana Heights Mayor’s Office
- Free and open to Agana Heights 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)

CDC Recommends the Use of Cloth Face Coverings
While people who are sick or know that they have COVID-19 should isolate at home, COVID-19 can be spread by people who do not have symptoms and do not know that they are infected. That’s why it’s important for everyone to practice social distancing (staying at least 6 feet away from other people) and wear cloth face coverings in public settings. Cloth face coverings provide an extra layer to help prevent the respiratory droplets from traveling in the air and onto other people.

COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Studies and evidence on infection control report that these droplets usually travel around 6 feet (about two arms lengths).

Wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations.

Cloth face coverings may slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.
Cloth face coverings can be made from household items.

The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders. For more information, visit the CDC website:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

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. 178 - Report Unemployment Fraud to GDOL; Reporting Requirements for SNAP; Expanded COVID-19 Testing Continues; CDC Recommends the Use of Cloth Face Coverings