JIC RELEASE NO. 274 - Two Additional GPD Officers Test Positive for COVID-19;GPD’s Services Bureau Temporarily Suspends Operations - 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/.

Two Additional GPD Officers Confirmed Positive
On Wednesday, August 18, 2020, the Guam Police Department (GPD) was made aware of two police officers who had tested positive for COVID-19. The officers are currently in home isolation. The two officers are assigned to GPD’s specialized unit and GPD’s Administrative Services Bureau, with each officer having minimal contact to the greater community.

GPD is working alongside the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) with ongoing contact tracing. All GPD personnel who have been identified as close contact with the two officers reported on Tuesday, August 18 and the two additional reported today, are in home quarantine and await COVID-19 test results. GPD is undergoing deep cleansing and sanitizing of all offices and the respective sections in assuring the health and safety of all GPD personnel.

GPD’s Services Bureau Temporarily Suspends Operations
In compliance with Executive Order 2020-27 declaring Pandemic Condition of Readiness 1, the GPD’s Administrative Services Bureau, which consists of Recreational and Boating Safety, Records and ID Section and the Armory will be suspending operations and services to the community. A guideline is provided for those that may be affected by the suspension of operations:

Vessel Registrations and Renewal

Automatic Extension of Vessel Registrations for REGISTRATIONS EXPIRING IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 2020
- Any vessel registrations which expire in August 2020 and September 2020 will be extended through October 31, 2020.

Firearms Registrations

New Firearms Registrations and Ownership Transfers
- Issuance will resume when the office opens for normal operations.
- Firearms Identification Cards (Concealed and Non-Concealed):
  - Expired Firearms Identification Cards
    - For all firearms identification cards which expire from August 16 through September 30, all late fees will be waived.
    - All firearms identification cards which expired prior to August 16, late fees for the period from March 16 – April 30 will be waived as long as renewal is done by May 31, 2020. Any other late fees will apply.
  - New Firearms Identifications Cards
    - Issuance of new firearms identification cards will resume when the office opens for normal operations.

GPD’s Records and ID Section:

Police Clearances, Traffic Accident Reports and Other Administrative Reports:
- Issuance will resume when GPD’s Records and ID Section resumes normal operations.

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. 274 - Two Additional GPD Officers Test Positive for COVID-19;GPD’s Services Bureau Temporarily Suspends Operations