JIC RELEASE NO. 63 - Profiles of Earlier Confirmed Cases; COVID-19 Links to Group Settings; Local Advance of Economic Impact Payments; DPHSS Updates; Services for Low-Income Veterans - GHS OCD

The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) tested 34 individuals for COVID-19 on Wednesday, April 8, 2020 with conclusive results. One (1) tested positive through DPHSS and 33 tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. Additional results will be provided later this evening once today’s test results are finalized.

Preliminary Profiles of Confirmed Cases

Most of Guam COVID-19 known positive cases have epidemiological links to other confirmed cases. Profiles of the 125 COVID-19 cases include two clinically diagnosed cases, reports of 11 confirmed positive cases received from the U.S. Naval Hospital that were tested by the Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) in San Diego, and one confirmed positive case through Diagnostic Laboratory Services (DLS).

To date, a total of 123 cases tested positive and two were clinically diagnosed with 33 recoveries and four deaths. As this is an evolving situation, information is subject to change with little to no notice.

MEDICAL STATUS

GENDER

RESIDENTIAL LOCATION

TRAVEL HISTORY*

AGE GROUP

Stable: 74

Hospitalized: 14

Recovered: 33

Deaths: 04

Female: 66

Male: 59

North: 65

Central: 41

South: 17

Homeless: 02

Dubai: 02

Japan: 01

Philippines: 11

Singapore: 01

U.S.: 05

*Some cases traveled to more than one country

90+: 01

80-89: 04

70-79: 09

60-69: 33

50-59: 23

40-49: 23

30-39: 12

20-29: 12

10-19: 07

0-9: 01

COVID-19 Cases Linked to Group Settings in Guam
DPHSS has completed contact tracing for the following clusters starting March 15: Håfa Adai Bingo, Sinajana Senior Citizen Center, a golf tournament, three travel-related groups, and a fundraiser. The incubation period (14 days) from these exposures has passed. In total, 33 individuals were identified and tested positive for COVID-19. No other cases were confirmed in those exposed at these events.

DPHSS is actively investigating additional clusters of COVID-19 cases. As of April 8, 2020, positive cases have been linked to seven group settings in Guam that are currently under Public Health investigation:

Group Settings	# of COVID-19 Positive cases
Iglesia Ni Cristo Church	11
Family Gathering at a Hotel	5
Health Care Settings (Two Locations)	17
Various United Airlines Flights (Passengers in Government of Guam Quarantine Facility)	3
United Airlines Flight Crew	1
United Airlines Flight from Honolulu to Guam	2

If you believe you have been in contact with someone confirmed positive with COVID-19, or in any of the group settings above, please call 311 and press option 1 to be directed to the DPHSS Nurse Triage or call (671) 480-7859, (671) 480-6760; (671) 480-6763; (671) 480-7883; or (671) 687-6170 (ADA Line).

Local Advance of Economic Impact Payments
Guam has received IRS approval for the total estimated cost of $134.8 million of federal Economic Impact Payments to be paid to the Government of Guam. Because Guam was among the first territories to submit a draft implementation plan, checks associated with this program may be cut within about two weeks of IRS approval.

Prior to the implementation of the federal program, $11 million in local funds will be used to issue checks to tax filers with adjusted gross incomes of $10,000 or less in tax year 2018 as early as next week.

“Guam Guide to COVID-19: We’re ALL in this Together” available on dphss.guam.gov
DPHSS has a suite of materials that contains public health information and advice about how you can help stop the spread of viruses, like COVID-19, by practicing good respiratory and hand hygiene. New to the website is a 12-page booklet, “Guam Guide to COVID-19: We’re ALL in this Together.” To access, download and share this information, visit http://dphss.guam.gov/

Updates on Health Certificates

Effective immediately, DPHSS has waived the requirement for food-handlers to obtain and possess a Health Certificate when employed at a food facility. Employees without health certificates must be directly supervised by a manager or supervisor with a Manager’s Certification to ensure they are given appropriate guidance and instructions on food safety.

Services for Low-Income Veterans

The WestCare Pacific Islands (WPI) Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSFV) program continues to provide emergency assistance related to housing, utilities, and food for veterans and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic. The WPI SSFV program provides supportive services for low or very low-income veteran families residing in or transitioning to permanent housing. Services are designed to increase the housing stability of veteran families that are at-risk of or experiencing homelessness. SSVF also provides access to nutritious food and related supplies through an emergency food program. Eligibility and screening are required. To access the SSFV urgent services, call their hotline numbers, operational Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.:

(671) 482-9001
(671) 688-5444
(671) 488-9001

For more information email pacificislandsssvf@westcare.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. 63 - Profiles of Earlier Confirmed Cases; COVID-19 Links to Group Settings; Local Advance of Economic Impact Payments; DPHSS Updates; Services for Low-Income Veterans