JIC RELEASE NO. 51 - Three Test Positive for COVID-19 via NHRC; Profiles of Earlier Confirmed Cases - GHS OCD

Three (3) additional cases tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 through the Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) in San Diego.

On Friday, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) tested 19 individuals for COVID-19 with conclusive results. Two (2) tested positive through DPHSS and 17 tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. Only one batch of tests was run by the Guam Public Health Laboratory (GPHL) due to a quality assurance issue with the first batch. These tests will be rerun today and included in results later this evening.

To date, a total of 87 cases tested positive with 20 patients who have recovered and four deaths.

Confirmed Cases of COVID-19
Tested by DPHSS GPHL	Tested by NHRC	Total
78	9	87

Preliminary Profiles of Confirmed Cases
Most of Guam COVID-19 known positive cases have epidemiological links to other confirmed cases. Profiles of the 87 confirmed cases include reports of nine positive confirmed cases received from the U.S. Naval Hospital that were tested through the Department of Defense and sent off island.

GENDER

RESIDENTIAL LOCATION

TRAVEL HISTORY*

AGE GROUP

Female: 41

Male: 46

North: 32

Central: 35

South: 13

Homeless: 2

Pending: 5

Dubai: 2

U.S.: 3

Japan: 1

Philippines: 11

Singapore: 1

*Some cases traveled to more than one country

90+: 1

80-89: 4

70-79: 9

60-69: 24

50-59: 16

40-49: 15

30-39: 9

20-29: 8

10-19: 1

CDC Recommends the Use of Cloth Face Coverings
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to study the spread and effects of the novel coronavirus across the United States. A significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms (“asymptomatic”) and even those who eventually develop symptoms (“pre-symptomatic”) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms. This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms.

In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. It is critical that people maintain six-feet social distancing to slow the spread of the virus. CDC is additionally advising the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.

The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance. For more information, visit the CDC website:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

Stemming Rumors
Joint Region Marianas (JRM) is aware of the photos of service members circulating on social media. The persons featured in the photos are not assigned to USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) or any of its embarked units.

One image showing groups of people standing near beach chairs was taken Saturday, March 21, before the ship had even arrived at Guam. In a separate photo, JRM has confirmed that some persons shown seated and standing in the water near the beach are active-duty Sailors completing a rotational deployment to Guam. JRM Commander Rear Adm. John Menoni has spoken with the Sailors' chain of command, who will conduct all investigative and corrective actions.

In accordance with Health Protection Condition C and the Governor's Executive Order, all service members on Guam are required to restrict unit and social group activities, including at public beaches and parks, and to implement social distancing. JRM is committed to enforcing these measures which are best practices for mitigating the spread of COVID-19.

Stay Up to Date with Reputable Sources
The Joint Information Center is aware of viral unverified messages circulating on social media and chat groups. The community is reminded to only share verified, official information with others. Visit the following links for the most up-to-date information:

CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
DPHSS website: https://dphss.guam.gov/covid-19
GHS/OCD website: https://ghs.guam.gov/coronavirus-covid-19

For inquiries on COVID-19, local numbers can call 311 or contact the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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. 51 - Three Test Positive for COVID-19 via NHRC; Profiles of Earlier Confirmed Cases