JIC RELEASE NO. 293 - DPHSS Issues Guidance Memo 2020-36; Four More GDOE Employees Test Positive for COVID-19; Food Commodities Distribution Through Village Mayors Begin Next Week

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/.

DPHSS Issues Guidance Memo 2020-36
The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) issued Guidance Memo 2020-36, relative to restrictions for business and government operations in accordance with Executive Order No. 2020-29 during the current Pandemic Conditions of Readiness 1 (PCOR 1), which was declared by Executive Order No. 2020-27.

A.     Definitions as used in this memorandum:

1.  “Congregation” shall mean a meeting or a gathering of more than one person where the individuals are not members of an Immediate Family Unit or Single Household Unit

2.  “Immediate Family Unit” shall mean individuals who are from the same family and are related to one another as either parent and child or sibling. 

3.  “Single Household Unit” shall mean individuals who may or may not be blood-related, but who reside in the same household.

4.  “Critical Government of Guam agencies” shall mean Government of Guam agencies and departments or its divisions, bureaus, or sections that provide critical services to the health and safety of the community, including critical supporting functions to such agencies and departments and Authorized Businesses and Services, which includes permitting, titles and recordation, licensing, treasury, collections, cashiering, procurement, recruitment, utilities, and air and sea port operations.

5.  “Authorized Businesses and Services” shall mean:

a. Community testing coordinated, performed, led, or otherwise sanctioned by DPHSS;

b. Healthcare Operations (including medical and dental clinics; pharmacies; excluding elective outpatient medical and dental procedures, treatments, and therapies);

c. Authorized Infrastructure;

d. Distance learning services;

e. Authorized Retail Stores;

f. Authorized Food Establishments;

g. Food cultivation, including farming, livestock, and subsistence and commercial fishing (excludes game fishing and charters);

h. Businesses and registered non-profit organizations that provide food, shelter, and social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals;

i. Newspapers, television, radio, and other media services;

j. Gas stations;

k. Automobile, motorcycle, and bicycle supply and repair shops;

l. Construction companies;

m.     Hardware stores;

n. Plumbers, electricians, exterminators, builders, contractors, HVAC technicians, landscapers, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and critical operation of residences, critical activities, and critical businesses;

o. Banks, credit unions, and related financial institutions (i.e., establishments providing payroll, accounting, insurance, check-cashing, ATM, and money transfer operations);

p. Businesses providing mailing and shipping services, including post office boxes;

q. Laundromats, dry cleaners, and laundry service providers;

r. Businesses that primarily supply products needed for people to work from home;

s. Trash and recycling collection, processing, and disposal services;

t. Funeral homes, crematoriums, and cemeteries;

u. Animal shelters;

v. Defense and national security-related operations supporting the U.S. Government or a contractor to the U.S. government;

w.   Businesses that primarily supply other critical businesses with the support or supplies necessary to operate;

x. Businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, goods or services directly to residences;

y. Airlines, taxis, and other private transportation providers providing transportation services necessary for critical activities and other purposes;

z. Home-based care for seniors or adults;

aa.   Residential facilities and shelters for seniors, adults, and children;

bb.   Real estate service by appointment only;

cc.   Sale of automobiles and other motorized vehicles by appointment only;

dd.   Professional services, such as legal or accounting services, when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities;

ee.   Vehicle and moped rental businesses;

ff. Building cleaning and maintenance operations (i.e., janitorial services, landscaping services, and pool maintenance);

gg.   Security companies to maintain building access and control and physical security measures;

hh.   Armored cash carriers;

ii. Distributors, wholesalers, and providers to critical businesses;

jj. Drive-through service only by Eating and Drinking Establishments;

kk.   Curbside Pickup only by Eating and Drinking Establishments;

ll. Eating and Drinking Establishment contracted to provide meals to government-operated quarantine and isolation facilities; and

mm.  Business operations of firearms or ammunition products and accessories.

6.  “Healthcare Operations” means:

a.  Hospitals, clinics, dentists, pharmacies, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, other healthcare facilities, healthcare suppliers, home healthcare services providers, mental health providers, or any related and/or ancillary healthcare services; and

b.  Veterinary care and all healthcare services provided to animals; but

c.  Does not include fitness centers, exercise gyms, similar facilities; daycare facilities; and therapeutic massage establishments without physician’s order.

7.  “Eating and Drinking Establishments” means businesses, such as restaurants and other food facilities, that prepare and serve food.

8.  “Authorized Infrastructure” means businesses including but not limited to:

a.  Airport operations to include all aircraft and passenger activities and support services;

b.  Water, wastewater, gas, electrical, oil refining, roads and highway operations;

c.  Public transportation;

d.  Solid waste collection and removal;

e.  Internet and telecommunications systems (including the provision of essential global, national, and local infrastructure for computing services, business infrastructure, communications and web-based services); and

f.   Hotels and places of accommodation.

9.  “Authorized Items” means items that are necessary to maintain daily requirements for health, safety, and sanitation for residences, such as pharmaceuticals, cleaning and sanitizing products, personal care products, and other non-grocery products.  Other examples include, but not limited to, appliances necessary to cook, heat, freeze, or chill food; fuel for cooking; fans; air conditioners; mattresses; candles; batteries; cookware and utensils; and coolers.

10.  “Authorized Retail Stores” means those retail stores that primarily sell Authorized Items.  Determination of commodities available for sale shall be restricted to the authorized operations as stated in the Business License issued by the Department of Revenue and Taxation.

11.  “Face mask” means material that covers the nose and mouth and can be secured to the head with ties or straps or wrapped around the lower face.  Face masks with exhalation vent, valve, or any device that allows unfiltered release of exhaled breath are highly discouraged.

12.  “Authorized Food Establishments” means businesses, such as grocery stores; certified farmers’ markets; farm and produce stands; supermarkets; food banks; convenience stores; and other establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of canned food, dry goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, livestock and pet food, fresh meats, fish, and poultry.

13.  “Funeral Ceremony” means wakes, visitations, viewings, burial, and/or other funeral services.

14.  “Non-Authorized Operations” means businesses, including Non-Authorized Retail Stores, and/or activities not listed under Authorized Businesses and Services.

15.  “Non-Authorized Retail Stores” means retail stores that primarily sell Non-Essential Items.

16.  “Non-Essential Items” means merchandise and service that include, but are not limited to:

a.  Clothing/Shoe stores;

b.  Luxury goods stores;

c.  Furniture stores;

d.  Jewelry stores;

e.  Kiosks;

f.   Novelty shops (theme-oriented type of stores);

g.  Sporting goods stores;

h.  Vape shops

i.   Cigar stores;

j.   Video stores and rentals;

k.  Amusement; and

l.   Any other businesses and services identified as Non-Authorized Retail Stores by DPHSS.

17.  “Primarily” shall mean at least eighty percent (80%) of the merchandise.

18.  “Curbside Pickup” shall mean an operation of an Eating and Drinking Establishment that allows customers to receive their food without leaving their vehicle and adheres to the following requirements and restrictions:

a.  Establishment is to prohibit customers from exiting their vehicles, entering the establishment, and ordering at the establishment;

b.  Establishment delivers the purchased food to the customers’ vehicles;

c.  Establishment directs the customers to turn off any mechanical ventilation (i.e., fan and A/C) of the vehicle before delivering the food;

d.  Establishment ensures customers are wearing their face mask; and

e.  Employees of establishments must wash their hands after servicing every customer.

19.  “Drive-through service” shall mean an operation of an Eating and Drinking Establishment that allows customers to receive their food without leaving their car and has the following characteristics:

a.  Orders, payments, and delivery of food are conducted on the premises of the establishment;

b.  Customers do not park their vehicle but drive in one direction to give food order, make payments, and receive their food;

c.  Employees do not leave their establishment for any transaction with the customer; and

d.  Establishment possesses the proper license and permits to operate the business.

B.      Authorized Businesses, Services and Activities.  Unless already authorized for operation under DPHSS Guidance Memorandum 2020-35 or otherwise authorized herein, all authorized businesses, services, and activities are permitted to operate effective at 12:00 PM on Saturday, August 29, 2020:

1.  Authorized Businesses and Services (as defined above);

2.  Banks and related financial institutions (i.e., payroll, accounting, insurance, check cashing, and money transfer operations), which are permitted to open for public access at the start of business on Friday, August 28, 2020;

3.  Critical Government of Guam agencies, provided such agencies and departments are able to adequately protect their employees and the public through the implementation COVID-19 mitigation measures provided by U.S. CDC and DPHSS Guidance Memo 2020-28;

4.  Running, walking, biking, and other individual recreation and exercise is permitted on public roadways, beaches, and parks;

5.  Distance learning by schools and its supporting activities, which includes curbside pick-up and delivery of materials and documents;

6.  Funeral Ceremonies (both religious and non-religious); however, such services are restricted to only immediate family unit or a single household unit, not to exceed ten people at any given moment inside a building where the ceremony is being held;

7.  Hotels will be allowed to continue limited operations to allow their guests to stay in their facilities, but non-essential/non-critical operations found on its premises, such as bars, ballrooms, fitness centers, and swimming pools are not permitted to operate;

8.  Schools and other entities that typically provide free food services to students or members of the public may continue to do so on the condition that the food is provided to students or members of the public on a pick-up and take-away basis only (note: schools and other entities that provide food services under this exemption shall not allow the food to be eaten at the site where it is provided, or at any other gathering site on their premises); and

9.  Parking lot services by any religious institutions, provided the following restrictions and requirements are implemented:

a. All attendees are to remain in their vehicle at all times; and

b. Distribution of any kind (i.e., the Eucharist, newsletters, donations, etc.) between the attendees and the religious institution must occur through the window of a vehicle, and is subject to mask-wearing guidelines.

C.      The number of people in any authorized business or operation shall be limited to 50% of that building’s or business’ occupancy load.

D.     All businesses shall follow applicable requirements of DPHSS Guidance Memo 2020-29, which does not contradict or conflict with Executive Orders 2020-27, 2020-28, and 2020-29 and this memorandum, for social distancing; cleaning, sanitization, and/or disinfection of surfaces; posting of signs; face masks; and employee health and hygiene.

E.      Businesses and Services Not Authorized for On-Site Operations.

1. Government of Guam agencies with customer service functions that are not deemed critical to the health and safety of the community; however, employees of such agencies are to continue working from home unless designated by the respective agencies as providing critical services;

2. Non-Authorized Operations;

3. Dine-in services at Eating and Drinking Establishments;

4. Educational institutions, including public and private K-12 schools, colleges, and universities and those staff not engaged in distance learning or not performing critical functions;

5. Curb-side sale of merchandise that are not Authorized Items;

6. Child care facilities;

7. Professional services not explicitly mentioned as Authorized Businesses and Services;

8. Cosmetic establishments, including tattoo shops;

9. Theaters and museums;

10.  Dive Shops;

11.  Tourist attraction sites and venues (including fishing and boat charters);

12.  Bars and taverns;

13.  Gymnasiums, fitness centers, and golf courses;

14.  Movie theaters;

15.  Sporting events of all types;

16.  Public swimming pools;

17.  Firing ranges and golf driving ranges;

18.  Therapeutic massage establishments;

19.  Automobile detailing services (i.e., cleaning, tinting, washing, waxing);

20.  Animal grooming and training facilities;

21.  Travel agencies;

22.  All places of worship, except for parking lot services; and

23.  All government of Guam public parks and beaches, except for individual use for the purpose of exercise, subject to social distancing mandates.

F.       Selling of Non-Authorized Items is strictly prohibited.

G.     Congregation is prohibited at all public and private premises, except as authorized in Executive Order No. 2020-29 or this Guidance Memorandum.

H.     DPHSS shall enforce this memorandum and Executive Orders 2020-27, 2020-28, and 2020-29 pursuant to relevant provisions of DPHSS Guidance Memorandum 2020-25.

For further questions, please contact the Division of Environmental Health at 300-9579 from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, or email, dphss-deh@dphss.guam.gov.

Four More GDOE Employees Test Positive for COVID-19

On Thursday, August 27, 2020, the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) confirmed that four additional employees tested positive for COVID-19. One case was identified at Agueda Johnston Middle School (AIJMS) and three cases were identified at the GDOE headquarters in Tiyan. Three of the four were identified through contact tracing. 

The GDOE is working closely with DPHSS to conduct contact tracing and close contacts of the confirmed cases 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). 

Areas of the AIJMS campus and GDOE district office have been identified for cleaning and disinfecting. GDOE employees are teleworking and will not have access to these areas until cleaning has been completed.

Food Commodities Distribution Through Village Mayors Begin Next Week

GDOE, State Agency for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Nutrition Service (FNS), will begin the distribution of food commodities for the month of September in partnership with the local mayors.

Instead of the COVID-19 pandemic distribution model, where commodities were provided at designated locations such as the GDOE TEFAP warehouse in Piti, Tiyan baseball field or Dededo Farmer’s Market, commodities will be distributed through each mayor at the village level. This distribution method will be a drive-through or door-to-door delivery to provide easier access to food commodities for residents while also minimizing traffic-related issues.

Recipients will receive one bag of TEFAP food commodities per household to include egg noodles, elbow macaroni, cereal, instant milk, canned pears, peaches, beef stew, and lentils to include additional commodities as they arrive. Commodities will be distributed on a first come, first served basis, while supplies last. Commodity distribution in each village will be available to village constituents only and residents should call each mayor’s office for more information. The distribution schedule for the next two weeks is as follows:

Participants are reminded to wear a mask, maintain physical distancing, and follow all traffic directions and signage.

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 DPHSS GUIDANCE MEMO 2020-036 - Authorized Businesses and Services During PCOR 1 Relative to Executive Order 2020-29 (08-27-20)