JIC RELEASE NO. 117 - PCOR 2 Sunday, Continue to Practice Caution; Medicare Enrollment Information - GHS OCD

COVID-19 test results are reported from multiple labs at varying times of the day. Cumulative test results will be provided this evening once all tests from today are finalized. The Guam Public Health Laboratory (GPHL) will be closed on Sunday, May 10, 2020. There will be no tests run. The GPHL will resume operations on Monday. Physicians are reminded to follow storage requirements by ensuring specimens are refrigerated at 2-8°C.

To date, there have been 151 cases confirmed through COVID-19 testing provided with 5 deaths and 124 released from isolation. As this is an evolving situation, information is subject to change with little to no notice.

The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) uses CDC’s test-based criteria for releasing patients from isolation. This requires COVID-19 patients to have two consecutive negative tests at least 24 hours apart before being released from isolation.

Some cases that were previously released from isolation have returned to active isolation status after re-testing positive for COVID-19 through follow-up testing. To date, no additional cases have been linked to people released from isolation.

For updated information on COVID-19 cases on Guam, visit the COVID-19 Dashboard at http://dphss.guam.gov/covid-19/.

Declaration of Pandemic Condition of Readiness (PCOR) 2
Governor Lou Leon Guerrero has declared Pandemic Condition of Readiness (PCOR) 2 at 8 a.m. on Sunday, May 10, 2020. PCOR 2 is the level with moderate restrictions and is intended to signal a positive movement toward normalcy. The PCOR 2 goals involve an effort to continue to slow the possible spread of COVID-19 while being able to gradually re-open certain business, non-governmental organization, government, and individual activities.

Industry specific guidelines are made available for businesses and non-governmental organizations on the Guam Chamber of Commerce website:
https://www.guamchamber.com.gu/guam/guidelines-to-opening-guam-businesses-and-ngos

Although many businesses will be open to the public, the community is reminded to continue to practice precautionary measures:

Maintain a distance of 6 feet between yourself and others
Wear facial coverings around others and in public establishments
Adhere to respective business protocols in place for protection from COVID-19
Practice good hygiene frequently
Stay home if you are sick

While social gatherings of no more than 10 people are allowed, keep in mind the health and safety of your loved ones. Practice safe measures when around others by waving instead of hugging or embracing one another.

Medicare Enrollment Information
If a Medicare beneficiary missed their opportunity to enroll because the Social Security Administration (SSA) offices were closed or they did not know how to submit an application online to SSA, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking further action to ensure beneficiaries have access to the critical health care coverage they need in the wake of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak. CMS may provide “equitable relief” if circumstances described in section 1837(h) of the Social Security Act (the Act) occur. Equitable relief may be in the form of extra time for certain eligible beneficiaries to enroll in Part B or premium-Part A, or refuse automatic Part B enrollment.

In addition, eligible beneficiaries would not be subject to a late enrollment penalty for the period between the original enrollment period and the enrollment during this extension of the enrollment period. Beneficiaries are eligible for equitable relief due to the COVID-19 pandemic-related national emergency if they were unable to make their Part A or Part B enrollment choice in a timely manner due to delays and problems with access to the Social Security Administration (SSA) to file an application or enrollment election, as a result of the unexpected closure of field offices due to COVID-19.

Equitable Relief is retroactive to March 17, 2020.

For more information contact Chad Palomo of the DPHSS Division of Senior Citizens at (671) 735-7421/7415 or through email at chad.palomo@dphss.guam.gov. You may also contact the Social Security Administration’s national toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213.

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. 117 - PCOR 2 Sunday, Continue to Practice Caution; Medicare Enrollment Information