JIC RELEASE NO. 5. - Executive Order Provides Guidance for COVID-19 Response; What’s Open, What’s Closed - GHS OCD

Today, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero signed Executive Order 2020-04 relative to responding to confirmed cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The Executive Order closes all non-essential Government of Guam (GovGuam) offices, closes all public and private schools, and prohibits large gatherings.

Revised Guidance for Large Gatherings
As a result of revised guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued earlier today, the Executive Order downwardly adjusts the prohibition on large gatherings. That prohibition now applies to gatherings of 50 or more people in a single room or single space at the same time for social, spiritual, and recreational activities, including, but not limited to, community, civic, public, leisure, faith-based, or sporting events, parades, concerts, festivals, fiestas, conventions, fundraisers, and similar activities throughout Guam.

The Executive Order also limits the occupancy of any place of business or public accommodation for which attendance is anticipated to be fewer than 50 people, and shall operate at no greater than 50% occupancy and no greater than 50% of seating capacity. This directive does not apply to retail establishments providing basic food and necessities such as grocery and convenience stores, hospitals, pharmacies, or other medical offices and facilities.

Restricting Entry into Guam
Effective immediately, non-resident travelers seeking entry into Guam who have spent a week or more in jurisdictions affected by COVID-19 will be subject to mandatory quarantine. The mandatory quarantine will be applied unless the traveler possesses a DPHSS recognized and certified document that attests he or she is not infected with COVID-19. Returning residents without the same certification will be subject to quarantine in their homes for a minimum of 14 days.

Enforcement
Mandates of the Executive Order will be enforced by DPHSS who may call upon the assistance of the Guam Police Department (GPD).

What’s Open, What’s Closed
The Joint Information Center received the following updates regarding closures or updated hours of operation:

Schools:

The Guam Department of Education - closed until further notice; Guam Education Board meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, 2020 is postponed; all activities and events including Standards Based Grading information sessions and sports are canceled
Catholic Schools - closed until further notice
Mt. Carmel School - closed until further notice (correcting misinformation from a previous JIC release)
St. Paul Christian School - closed until further notice
Harvest Christian Academy - closed this week for Spring Break, but additional guidance regarding closure beyond that will be provided
St. John’s School - closed until further notice
Temple Baptist Christian School - closed until further notice
SIFA Learning Academy - closed until further notice
Guahan Academy Charter School - closed until further notice
iLearn Academy Charter School - closed until further notice
University of Guam - all on-campus classes are canceled until further notice. All online classes resume normal operations.
Guam Community College - closed until further notice

GovGuam

Judiciary of Guam: Closed at noon today. All court proceedings scheduled for this morning (prior to noon) will proceed as planned. All other judiciary functions and operations will be canceled until further notice.
Guam Regional Transit Authority: Both Paratransit and fixed route services continue normal operations at this time.
Guam Solid Waste Authority: GSWA advised trash pick-up will operate normally as scheduled with the exception of recycling, which will not be picked up. Transfer stations remain open, for now.
Department of Corrections: There will be no visitation at this time, effective immediately.

U.S. Renal Care Dialysis Centers

The U.S. Renal Care Dialysis Centers remain open until further notice. Patients will be contacted if there are changes to scheduled appointments. Patients are encouraged to contact the centers directly for more information:

U.S. Renal Care – Dededo: 637-3068

U.S. Renal Care – Finegayan: 588-0020

U.S. Renal Care – Sinajana: 475-3600

U.S. Renal Care – Tamuning: 646-3516

U.S. Renal Care – Tumon: 646-3773

Village Mayor’s Offices

All village Mayor’s Offices will remain open until further notice. All village gyms remain closed until further notice.

Military

Naval Base Guam and Andersen Air Force Base are assessing the situation and will provide a list of closures this afternoon as appropriate.

Naval Base Guam and Andersen Air Force Base Commissaries are closed.

DoDEA schools remain open at this time.

The Guam National Guard Readiness Center remains open and resumes normal operations at this time. Additional information will be provided if there are changes.

Stay Up to Date with Reputable Sources

It is important to note that the situation can change quickly. The community is reminded to only share official notices and visit the following links for the most up-to-date information:

● CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

● DPHSS website: http://dphss.guam.gov/2019-novel-coronavirus-2019-n-cov/

● GHS/OCD website: https://ghs.guam.gov/coronavirus-covid-19

It is important to note that the spread of COVID-19 is a dynamic situation and information may change as it develops.

For more information, contact DPHSS Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at (671) 735-7154.

EO 2020-04 Relative to Responding to Confirmed Cases of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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. 5. - Executive Order Provides Guidance for COVID-19 Response; What’s Open, What’s Closed