JIC RELEASE NO. 466 - Regulations Governing the Enforcement of Public Health Guidance Memoranda and Directives During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency EffectiveThursday, November 26, 2020 - GHS OCD

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

Regulations Governing the Enforcement of Public Health Guidance Memoranda and Directives Effective Thursday, November 26, 2020
Effective Thursday, November 26, 2020, in accordance with 10 GCA § 19802, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS), in coordination with the Guam Police Department (GPD), will begin the enforcement of DPHSS Guidance Memoranda and Directives during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency first declared by Governor Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero in Executive Order No. 2020-03 on March 14, 2020, and extended in several Executive Orders thereafter.

Regulations were developed to slow and contain the spread of COVID-19, which include but are not limited to the enforcement of the limitations on gatherings, the wearing of masks, the requirement to keep logs, and other actions outlined in DPHSS Guidance Memoranda and Directives. DPHSS held two public hearings to gather comments to its draft regulations. The adopted Regulations are a result of that gathered feedback. Challenges to citations can be made through the Traffic Division of the Superior Court of Guam.

For persons, willful violation of, or failure to comply with any guidance or directive issued by DPHSS relating to the following shall constitute a civil violation:

congregations or social gatherings;
social distancing and the wearing of masks when congregating with persons not from the same household; or
any restrictions on the use of public parks or beaches, and on organized or contact sports.

Persons who are found in violation are subject to the following fines and penalties:

FIRST OFFENSE: such person shall be guilty of a civil violation punishable by a fine of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).
SECOND OFFENSE: such person shall be guilty of a civil violation punishable by a fine of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00).
THIRD OFFENSE AND EACH ADDITIONAL VIOLATION THEREAFTER: such person shall be guilty of a civil violation punishable by a fine of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).

For businesses and nonprofit organizations, unless otherwise authorized by DPHSS, willful violation of, or failure to comply with, any guidance or directive issued by DPHSS relating to the following shall constitute a civil violation:

the submission of mitigation plans;
limitations on authorized operations;
occupancy limitations;

Businesses and nonprofit organizations found in violation shall be punishable as follows:

FIRST OFFENSE: such business or nonprofit organization shall be guilty of a civil violation punishable by a fine of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).
SECOND OFFENSE: such business or nonprofit organization shall be guilty of a civil violation punishable by a fine of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00).
THIRD OFFENSE AND EACH ADDITIONAL VIOLATION THEREAFTER: such business or nonprofit organization shall be guilty of a civil violation punishable by a fine of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00).

Regulations Governing the Enforcement of Public Health Guidance Memoranda and Directives During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

Fines collected under this section shall be shared equally by the GPD and DPHSS with funds for DPHSS deposited into the DPHSS COVID-19 account. A complete copy of the Regulations can be found on the DPHSS website at www.dphss.guam.gov.

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. 466 - Regulations Governing the Enforcement of Public Health Guidance Memoranda and Directives During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency EffectiveThursday, November 26, 2020