JIC RELEASE NO. 656 - Three COVID-19 Cases with U.K. Variant Identified on Guam;Community Reminded to Practice Caution - GHS OCD

Today, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) received the second set of results from virus samples that have been collected on Guam and have undergone genome sequencing by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Virus samples were collected between January 2021 and April 2021. To date, a total of 61 SARS-CoV-2 virus samples have been submitted to the CDC for genome sequencing.

DPHSS received the first set of results on March 19 from the CDC, which confirmed seven (7) of 26 samples identified the B.1.429 California Variant.

DPHSS received the second set of results on May 3 from the CDC, which confirmed three (3) of four (4) samples identified the B.1.1.7 Variant from the United Kingdom (U.K.). B.1.1.7 is considered a more highly transmissible variant of SARS-CoV-2. These virus samples came from travelers tested for SARS-CoV-2 at the government of Guam quarantine facility (QFAC).

In accordance with DPHSS protocol, these travelers were isolated in the government isolation facility. All arriving passengers who test positive for COVID-19 in the QFAC are required to be isolated in the government isolation facility. Additionally, all close contacts to these travelers were quarantined at the QFAC for 14 days before being transferred into the community.

Current results do not provide any evidence of the other Variants of Concern on Guam (P.1-- Brazil/Japan, B.1.351--South Africa, B.1.427--a California Variant of Concern).

The community is reminded to remain vigilant:

Remain home if you are sick. Keep away from others who are sick and limit face-to-face contact with others.
Keep a safe distance of 6 feet or more between yourself and others who are outside of your household.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
If visiting elderly family members, continue to practice social distancing to protect those you love.

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. 656 - Three COVID-19 Cases with U.K. Variant Identified on Guam;Community Reminded to Practice Caution