JIC RELEASE NO. 262 - Portions of FBLG Middle School to Close Following Positive COVID-19 Case; Expanded COVID-19 Testing Continues; GBHWC Crisis Hotline Available 24/7; Avoid Sharing Unofficial Information - GHS OCD

COVID-19 test results are reported from multiple labs at varying times of the day. The Joint Information Center will report cumulative COVID-19 test results once a day, unless unavailable.

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

Portions of F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School to Close Following Positive COVID-19 Case
The Guam Department of Education (GDOE) is working closely with the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) to conduct contact tracing after a confirmed COVID-19 case was identified at F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School.

On Thursday, August 13, 2020, the GDOE was notified that an employee at F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School tested positive for COVID-19. The contact tracing effort is ongoing and close contacts of the confirmed case will be contacted directly by DPHSS. A close contact is an individual who has come in face-to-face contact with a confirmed COVID-19 individual for at least 10 minutes or more and within six feet, or who has had direct contact with infectious secretions of the confirmed COVID-19 individual (e.g. being coughed on). Both the confirmed case and close contacts will not be permitted to return to campus until cleared by DPHSS.

Beginning Friday, August 14, 2020, portions of F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School campus will be closed for cleaning and disinfecting, to include areas of the campus accessed by the confirmed COVID-19 individual. These portions of the campus will be off-limits until cleaning is completed. Remaining portions of the campus will remain accessible by school personnel.

Daily precautions are taken at GDOE school sites to safeguard the health and safety of employees, students, and families. Not only are schools cleaned and sanitized daily, but other safety precautions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to include the following: required face coverings for all students and staff; temperature screening upon arrival; 6 feet physical distancing; regular cleaning of frequently touched surfaces and common areas; and encouraging students/employees to wash hands and sanitize often.

Expanded COVID-19 Testing Continues
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 while supplies last. No symptoms are needed to qualify for testing. Please bring an ID, if one is available. The community testing schedule is as follows:

COVID-19 Drive-Through and Walk-In Testing:

Saturday, Aug. 15, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Yigo Gym in Yigo, along Marine Corps Drive
Thursday, Aug. 20, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Guma Trankilidat in Tumon
- Note: this event is limited to Guma Trankilidat Residents
Saturday, Aug. 22, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the St. Francis Church and School Parking Lot, along Route 4 in Yona
Saturday, Sept. 5, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Talofofo Gym in Talofofo
Saturday, Sept. 19, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Umatac Mayor’s Office, along Route 2 in Umatac

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)

GBHWC Crisis Hotline Available 24/7
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 licensed experienced providers available, ready to assist the community with any heightened stress and anxiety experienced as a result of COVID-19.

Avoid Sharing Unofficial Information
The Joint Information Center is aware of unverified messages circulating on chat groups and social media about positive COVID-19 cases and places frequented. The community is reminded to only share verified, official information with others to avoid the spread of misinformation.

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 COVID-19 Testing-08.20.20

Click Here to View COVID-19 Testing-Aug-Sept

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. 262 - Portions of FBLG Middle School to Close Following Positive COVID-19 Case; Expanded COVID-19 Testing Continues; GBHWC Crisis Hotline Available 24/7; Avoid Sharing Unofficial Information