COVID-19 response: What’s open, closed, canceled, postponed, adjusted

Staff Reports, Pacific Daily News USA TODAY NetworkPublished 10:00 p.m. ChT March 15, 2020 | Updated 1:51 p.m. ChT March 28, 2020AD0:10

Visitors seeking assistance at the Guam Memorial Hospital’s emergency room on March 13, 2020, are pre-screened by hospital security officer Ricky San Nicolas. The screening has been implemented due to coronavirus concerns. Pacific Daily News

The government and the community are responding to COVID-19. Check the list to see the status of services and meetings.

Schools

• Guam Department of Education classes have been canceled.
• Catholic Schools have been canceled until further notice.
• All in-person classes at the University of Guam have been canceled for the rest of the semester.
• Guam Community College is closed.
• St. John’s School classes have been canceled.
• St. Paul Christian School has been canceled.
• Guam Adventist Academy has been canceled.
• Harvest Christian Academy is continuing classes in an online format for K3 to 12th grade students beginning Friday, March 27.
• 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 

Coronavirus: Guam will receive $479k in federal funds for COVID-19 response

Hospitals, clinics, eye, dentistry and veterinary care

• Guam Memorial Hospital: One visitor per patient is allowed. The emergency department is limited to patients and staff only, unless the patient requires a guardian. Temperature screening of visitors is being conducted.
• Guam Regional Medical City:  Visitation is suspended.
• The U.S. Renal Care Dialysis Centers remain open until further notice.
• FHP medical/urgent care department hours of operation will be 7 a.m. to 7 pm. Dental and Vision departments will be temporarily suspending routine visits and will have on-call provider and staff to attend to urgent issues
• TakeCare offices in Tamuning at the Baltej Pavilion, Philippines and Saipan, will be closed until further notice.
• NetCare Life and Health Insurance Company Customer Service Center located at the Julale Center remains closed until further notice. Customers and providers requiring assistance such as eligibility verification, enrollment status, billing, off-island referrals may call 472-3610.
• Guam Medical Care LLC will remain open. Operating hours are adjusted. All patients will require screening and temperature checks before entering the facility. Call  647-4174 for further instructions.
• SDA clinic: Patients with symptoms, such as cough, runny nose, fever, sore throat, difficulty breathing, etc., will be redirected to an outdoor screening/treatment area, where they will be evaluated and treated in their vehicles. In addition, elective surgical cases have been postponed and elective dental procedures have been postponed. Routine eye appointments are suspended from March 20 until further notice. Only urgent eye care will be accepted. 
• Harmon Loop Dental: Closed through through April 12. Expect to resume clinic hours on April 13. For emergencies contact 637-9696 or 637-0023.
• ExpressCare Hagatna and Micronesia Mall locations are open from 9 to 5 p.m. Limiting patients, not seeing patients with cough or fever. Call before coming in.
• Wise Owl Animal Hospital: Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for medical cases only. All elective surgeries are canceled. All puppies are encouraged to continue their vaccines. All annual vaccinations are postponed. Most cases accepted in a drop-off basis from your car.
• SuperDrug pharmacies remain open.

COVID-19: Here’s what social distancing is, and why it’s important during

Government

• Post Office: Regular hours, all branches
• Department of Corrections: No visitation.
• The Department of Youth Affairs: Maintains essential operations. Visitation for juveniles in custody will continue but are limited to phone calls and mail only until further notice. Parents/guardians can call 735-5022 and will be connected to the appropriate dormitory.
• District Court of Guam: Closed to the public. The U.S. Pretrial and Probation Office will be closed if you need assistance call 969-4600
• Libraries: Closed.
• The Mayor’s Council of Guam has suspended all village-sponsored events and activities until further notice. 
• All senior centers are closed.
• Guam Regional Transit Authority: Both Paratransit and fixed route services continue normal operations at this time.
• Guam Solid Waste Authority: Trash pick-up will operate normally as scheduled with the exception of recycling, which will not be picked up. Transfer stations are closed.
• Mayors’ offices remain open.
• Guam Judicial Center in Hagåtña and Northern Court Satellite in Dededo, offices of Probation Services Division and Judicial Education Center are closed to the public.  The court will hear some matters through video conference or telephonic appearance. All other Supreme Court and Superior Court matters are postponed. 
• All local Social Security offices will be closed to the public for in-person service.
• The Notary Examination scheduled for Monday, March 30, 2020, will be postponed until further notice. For questions or concerns please email Pauline Untalan at puntalan@oagguam.org.
• The Department of Revenue and Taxation will remain closed.

More: Guam funeral homes adjust in light of coronavirus containment measure

Community

• The Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association: Office will be closed for the next 14 days. All GHRA meetings are canceled until further notice.
• Guam Museum and the CHamoru Village: Closed for the next 14 days. CHamoru Village merchants and Wednesday night vendors are not to operate for the next 14 days.
• Narcotics Anonymous: Meetings on Guam have been postponed until further notice. Online meetings are still being held.
• The Guam Procurement Technical Assistance Center workshops for March are canceled.
• Andrea R. Ilao Foundation’s Swing for ReliefGolf Tournament scheduled for March 28 has been canceled.
• The Guam Running Club canceled all upcoming races, including the GRC Marathon, GRC Perimeter Relay, and community hosted races 5K or 2K. 
• The John F. Kennedy High School reunion events are canceled. The mixer on March 27, the 5K on March 28 and the dinner gala on March 28 are canceled. 
• University of Guam has canceled all sports.
• War in the Pacific National Park visitor center is closed.
• Guam National Wildlife Refuge–Ritidian Beach Unit closed effective March 25 until further notice. 

Utilities and telecom

• Guam Power Authority and Guam Waterworks customer lobbies at are closed for in-person transactions. Customer service representatives will be available by phone to respond to service inquires. Pay-by-phone services will be available from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. for GPA at (671) 647-5787 and for 24 hours a day for GWA at 647-4729. Customers can email at customersfirst@gpagwa.com. Disconnections for power and water are suspended through March 31. GPA and GWA customers, particularly those unable to use the utility’s online payment options, can conveniently make cash, check and credit card payments at the GWA Upper Tumon Customer Service Center drive-thru window. This service will be available Monday through Friday, from 8:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M.
• IT&E: The company is removing data caps for all its Guam postpaid subscribers until March 31 and is pushing back bill due dates.  Bill payment deadline has been pushed back from the 15th of the month. Subscribers can now pay their monthly bill anytime during the month and no late fees or suspensions will be applied. Stores remain open with strict sanitization and hand-washing procedures in place. Associates are available to help via phone at 922-4483. Phone purchases and bill payments can be made online at www.ite.net.
• GTA: For the next 60 days, from March 17, there will be no termination of service to any residential or business customers from their inability to pay their bills, and late fees will be waived. Same day repair and next day install should any network events impact services at home and work. Stores and call center will remain open with some schedule adjustments. 
• Docomo Pacific: Customers with postpaid mobile plans in Guam or the CNMI have endless mobile data for the next 30 days from March 17. The company has paused all disconnects due to non-payment and will be waiving all late fees during the same 30-day period. Headquarters retail location in Tamuning is closed until further notice. All other retail locations remain open.

Governor announces stricter COVID-19 measures to enforce stay home orders

Jerick Sablan, Pacific Daily NewsPublished 1:38 p.m. ChT April 3, 2020 | Updated 3:57 p.m. ChT April 3, 2020AD0:13

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero explains why Guam needs stricter measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 on April 3, 2020. Pacific Daily NewsCONNECTTWEETLINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMORE

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero announced greater control of roadways and tighter social distancing requirements.

Residents will need to show why they are out on the road and it must be essential, she said. Residents will need to have a sign on their vehicle to say what they are doing, she said.

The government plans to implement the stricter measures on Tuesday morning, Leon Guerrero said. She said it would include checkpoints to make sure people are going where they say they are going. 

More: Guam DOL anticipates 30,000 to 40,000 people will need pandemic unemployment assistance

More: First batch of USS Theodore Roosevelt sailors to move into Guam hotels for quarantine

The Guam Police Department and the Guam National Guard will be part of the enforcement, Leon Guerrero said.

She said there hasn’t been any decision on what sanctions will be at this point, but the government is working on it. 

Leon Guerrero said this doesn’t mean the island will be on lockdown or will be under martial law it’s just an escalation of her current stay-at-home measures. 

“I am using my authority to make sure we minimize exposure of our community so we can better control and eradicate the transmission of coronavirus,” she said. 

Social gatherings of any type will be prohibited to break the chain of transmission of COVID-19, she said.

More details will be provided later, she said. 

“Now is the time for solidarity,” she said. 

Leon Guerrero said restrictions will stay in place until there signs that things are better. She asks everyone to do their part to make the cases go down.

She said she doesn’t want to go to drastic measures like closing grocery stores and other businesses.

“I’m hoping we don’t get to that point and I know we won’t get to that point,” Leon Guerrero said. 

COVID-19 projections

Leon Guerrero’s medical advisory council shared projections of COVID-19 to make people understand why the measures are needed. She said the data would startle residents, but the fear must make people take action.

“COVID-19 does not discriminate,” she said.

Dr. Felix Cabrera said without implementing stricter compliance, Guam could suffer its greatest casualties since World War II. 

The current trajectory, which shows a 20% decrease in the spread rate, shows 6,000 hospital beds will be needed at the peak, and total deaths after five months would be 3,000.

If Guam works harder, the island could achieve a 40% decrease in the spread, Cabrera said.

“We need all of you to do your part,” the governor said.

Stay at home orders must be taken seriously by the people of Guam, Cabrera said. 

Alternate care sites

Dr. Luis Cruz has been working with federal partners to identify alternate care sites.

Some sites include several parking lots, the University of Guam Calvo Field house, and the Guam Greyhound Park.

Dr. Hoa Nguyen said the island is at war with COVID-19. 

“The enemy is invisible,” he said.

Everyone needs to do their part and stay at home. If they need to go outside, they should use a mask and wash their hands, he said. 

“Try to go out as little as possible,” he said.

Leon Guerrero said people are not recovering as quickly as new cases are confirmed and she pleads to residents to heed her stay at home orders to do their part.

“If you do not need to go anywhere, stay home,” she said. 

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COVID-19 response: What’s open, closed, canceled, postponed, adjusted

Staff Reports, Pacific Daily News USA TODAY NetworkPublished 10:00 p.m. ChT March 15, 2020 | Updated 1:51 p.m. ChT March 28, 2020AD0:10

Visitors seeking assistance at the Guam Memorial Hospital’s emergency room on March 13, 2020, are pre-screened by hospital security officer Ricky San Nicolas. The screening has been implemented due to coronavirus concerns. Pacific Daily News

The government and the community are responding to COVID-19. Check the list to see the status of services and meetings.

Schools

• Guam Department of Education classes have been canceled.
• Catholic Schools have been canceled until further notice.
• All in-person classes at the University of Guam have been canceled for the rest of the semester.
• Guam Community College is closed.
• St. John’s School classes have been canceled.
• St. Paul Christian School has been canceled.
• Guam Adventist Academy has been canceled.
• Harvest Christian Academy is continuing classes in an online format for K3 to 12th grade students beginning Friday, March 27.
• 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 

Coronavirus: Guam will receive $479k in federal funds for COVID-19 response

Hospitals, clinics, eye, dentistry and veterinary care

• Guam Memorial Hospital: One visitor per patient is allowed. The emergency department is limited to patients and staff only, unless the patient requires a guardian. Temperature screening of visitors is being conducted.
• Guam Regional Medical City:  Visitation is suspended.
• The U.S. Renal Care Dialysis Centers remain open until further notice.
• FHP medical/urgent care department hours of operation will be 7 a.m. to 7 pm. Dental and Vision departments will be temporarily suspending routine visits and will have on-call provider and staff to attend to urgent issues
• TakeCare offices in Tamuning at the Baltej Pavilion, Philippines and Saipan, will be closed until further notice.
• NetCare Life and Health Insurance Company Customer Service Center located at the Julale Center remains closed until further notice. Customers and providers requiring assistance such as eligibility verification, enrollment status, billing, off-island referrals may call 472-3610.
• Guam Medical Care LLC will remain open. Operating hours are adjusted. All patients will require screening and temperature checks before entering the facility. Call  647-4174 for further instructions.
• SDA clinic: Patients with symptoms, such as cough, runny nose, fever, sore throat, difficulty breathing, etc., will be redirected to an outdoor screening/treatment area, where they will be evaluated and treated in their vehicles. In addition, elective surgical cases have been postponed and elective dental procedures have been postponed. Routine eye appointments are suspended from March 20 until further notice. Only urgent eye care will be accepted. 
• Harmon Loop Dental: Closed through through April 12. Expect to resume clinic hours on April 13. For emergencies contact 637-9696 or 637-0023.
• ExpressCare Hagatna and Micronesia Mall locations are open from 9 to 5 p.m. Limiting patients, not seeing patients with cough or fever. Call before coming in.
• Wise Owl Animal Hospital: Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for medical cases only. All elective surgeries are canceled. All puppies are encouraged to continue their vaccines. All annual vaccinations are postponed. Most cases accepted in a drop-off basis from your car.
• SuperDrug pharmacies remain open.

COVID-19: Here’s what social distancing is, and why it’s important during

Government

• Post Office: Regular hours, all branches
• Department of Corrections: No visitation.
• The Department of Youth Affairs: Maintains essential operations. Visitation for juveniles in custody will continue but are limited to phone calls and mail only until further notice. Parents/guardians can call 735-5022 and will be connected to the appropriate dormitory.
• District Court of Guam: Closed to the public. The U.S. Pretrial and Probation Office will be closed if you need assistance call 969-4600
• Libraries: Closed.
• The Mayor’s Council of Guam has suspended all village-sponsored events and activities until further notice. 
• All senior centers are closed.
• Guam Regional Transit Authority: Both Paratransit and fixed route services continue normal operations at this time.
• Guam Solid Waste Authority: Trash pick-up will operate normally as scheduled with the exception of recycling, which will not be picked up. Transfer stations are closed.
• Mayors’ offices remain open.
• Guam Judicial Center in Hagåtña and Northern Court Satellite in Dededo, offices of Probation Services Division and Judicial Education Center are closed to the public.  The court will hear some matters through video conference or telephonic appearance. All other Supreme Court and Superior Court matters are postponed. 
• All local Social Security offices will be closed to the public for in-person service.
• The Notary Examination scheduled for Monday, March 30, 2020, will be postponed until further notice. For questions or concerns please email Pauline Untalan at puntalan@oagguam.org.
• The Department of Revenue and Taxation will remain closed.

More: Guam funeral homes adjust in light of coronavirus containment measure

Community

• The Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association: Office will be closed for the next 14 days. All GHRA meetings are canceled until further notice.
• Guam Museum and the CHamoru Village: Closed for the next 14 days. CHamoru Village merchants and Wednesday night vendors are not to operate for the next 14 days.
• Narcotics Anonymous: Meetings on Guam have been postponed until further notice. Online meetings are still being held.
• The Guam Procurement Technical Assistance Center workshops for March are canceled.
• Andrea R. Ilao Foundation’s Swing for ReliefGolf Tournament scheduled for March 28 has been canceled.
• The Guam Running Club canceled all upcoming races, including the GRC Marathon, GRC Perimeter Relay, and community hosted races 5K or 2K. 
• The John F. Kennedy High School reunion events are canceled. The mixer on March 27, the 5K on March 28 and the dinner gala on March 28 are canceled. 
• University of Guam has canceled all sports.
• War in the Pacific National Park visitor center is closed.
• Guam National Wildlife Refuge–Ritidian Beach Unit closed effective March 25 until further notice. 

Utilities and telecom

• Guam Power Authority and Guam Waterworks customer lobbies at are closed for in-person transactions. Customer service representatives will be available by phone to respond to service inquires. Pay-by-phone services will be available from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. for GPA at (671) 647-5787 and for 24 hours a day for GWA at 647-4729. Customers can email at customersfirst@gpagwa.com. Disconnections for power and water are suspended through March 31. GPA and GWA customers, particularly those unable to use the utility’s online payment options, can conveniently make cash, check and credit card payments at the GWA Upper Tumon Customer Service Center drive-thru window. This service will be available Monday through Friday, from 8:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M.
• IT&E: The company is removing data caps for all its Guam postpaid subscribers until March 31 and is pushing back bill due dates.  Bill payment deadline has been pushed back from the 15th of the month. Subscribers can now pay their monthly bill anytime during the month and no late fees or suspensions will be applied. Stores remain open with strict sanitization and hand-washing procedures in place. Associates are available to help via phone at 922-4483. Phone purchases and bill payments can be made online at www.ite.net.
• GTA: For the next 60 days, from March 17, there will be no termination of service to any residential or business customers from their inability to pay their bills, and late fees will be waived. Same day repair and next day install should any network events impact services at home and work. Stores and call center will remain open with some schedule adjustments. 
• Docomo Pacific: Customers with postpaid mobile plans in Guam or the CNMI have endless mobile data for the next 30 days from March 17. The company has paused all disconnects due to non-payment and will be waiving all late fees during the same 30-day period. Headquarters retail location in Tamuning is closed until further notice. All other retail locations remain open.

STAY INFORMEDCoronavirus coverageGovernor: We’re not out of the woods, surge of COVID-19 cases expected‘Help is on the way’: What the COVID-19 stimulus package means to Guam residentsA week into COVID-19 quarantine: ‘We don’t really know what’s happening’Coronavirus map shows COVID-19 cases in Guam and beyondGovernor extends emergency, closes beaches and parks

Businesses

• Pacific Daily News: Our Harmon lobby is closed, and we ask our customers to use our Hagåtña lobby for transactions. Please call 472-1PDN, 479-0219, 479-0294 or 479-0295 for assistance. We are encouraging our customers to either call prior to going to our Hagåtña location or to make their payments on guampdn.com. If you need assistance in doing that, please call.
• Pay-Less Markets: Adjusted hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Elderly have a designated shopping time from 5 to 6 a.m.. at the Dededo, Maite and Sumay Pay-Less stores.
• Coast360: Tamuning and Dededo member centers will be closed and services will be centralized to only Maite Member Center through drive-up tellers, appointment-only lobby services and Contact Center.
• Bank of Guam: Hagåtña branch will remain open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday, only.  All other Guam branches remain closed. 
• BankPacific will be temporarily reducing its office hours to 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.  The bank will also be temporarily closed on Saturdays.
• Personal Finance Center: PFC Tamuning Center operating hours are ‪from 9:30 am to 1:30pm.  Drive-thru and appointment only service will be available.  Please call ‪647-6820 for more information. Dededo Center remains closed at this time, until further notice. Insurance services by phone 647-6803, and email only at pfchq@pfcguam.com
• Philippine National Bank: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
• Community First: Face-to-face lobby services at all member service centers will be closed until further notice. Tamuning Member Service Center will have drive-thru operations and Hagåtña Member Service Center drive-thru operations will be closed until further notice.
• Benson’s: Store hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Military

• The Department of Defense Education Activity Guam schools are closed
• USO Tumon Bay and USO Andersen Centers have suspended operations.
• U.S. Naval Hospital Guam implemented temporary visitor restrictions. Visiting in all patient care areas throughout hospital is prohibited. Patients who are minors in emergency department or clinic require one guardian. One visitor per laboring mother. One parent, guardian or caretaker for a child admitted under 12 years old. Visiting deceased patients is limited to one hour and only two identified people.
• Beginning March 28, the hours of operations for the AAFES Gas Express and Shoppette, located at the Guam National Guard’s Readiness Center in Barrigada, will change to: 8 a.m.. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays.

To add your business or community announcement to the list, send us an email at news@guampdn.com.

#Outreach: That the world may know

#Prayer Focus: Pray for Our Prodigals

#Praise the Lord

Featured book: https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Service-3-Bruce-Dinsman-ebook

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Five more test positive for coronavirus, total Guam cases at 37

Staff Reports, Pacific Daily News/USA TODAY Network Published 9:08 p.m. ChT March 25, 2020 | Updated 4:58 a.m. ChT March 26, 2020

Five people tested positive for coronavirus Wednesday, bringing the island’s total confirmed cases to 37, according to the Joint Information Center.

Of those, one has died: a 68-year-old woman at Guam Memorial Hospital on Sunday, officials said.

More: Some swabs not tested for COVID-19 because they don’t meet priority

Additionally, four sailors at sea also tested positive for COVID-19 and were transported off the USS Theodore Roosevelt to Guam. The sailors are being treated at U.S. Naval Hospital Guam and remain isolated at U.S. Naval Base Guam in accordance with CDC protocols, according to the Joint Information Center.

Coronavirus (Photo: wildpixel, Getty Images/iStockphoto)

To date, a total of 37 cases tested positive by Public Health and 233 cases tested negative for COVID-19.

All 36 remaining cases are in isolation.

COVID-19: 1 GMH nurse positive for COVID-19

The non-essential business shutdown will stretch until April 13, and so far, there is still no immediate help for residents who have lost work and are looking to make ends meet. 

“I am very concerned about the economy here… everyone is very concerned about the economy. Everyone is seeing the same economic downturn as we are,” Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said during a press conference Tuesday. “But the overriding concern is the health and safety of the people.” 

“Congress is working diligently,” she said. “I’m just asking people to hang on.” 

Guam has no resources of its own to provide assistance to currently displaced workers, according to Guam Department of Labor Director David Dell’Isola. 

Dell’Isola said that everybody’s bills should be deferred if necessary, including rent, loan payments, utilities.

With many renters’ April rent looming, Leon Guerrero echoed this sentiment on Tuesday. 

“Could we be a little more lenient to the renters? Do some kind of deferral of their rent for two or three months? We will make sure (landlords) will get reimbursed for that,” Leon Guerrero said. “This is an economic disaster need.” 21 Photos People under quarantine moved to Pacific Star

Guam Power Authority discontinued power disconnections for the remainder of March. GPA is also recommending to lower customer power bills by reducing the Levelized Energy Adjustment Clause by 18.2%. This awaits approval from the Public Utilities Commission. 

There is no legislation currently on Guam regarding a rent suspension. GovGuam officials are primarily looking at Congress and the White House for aid. 

U.S. senators reached no conclusion Tuesday, Guam time, on a massive coronavirus stimulus package, which includes direct payments to all citizens, including on Guam. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said a vote on the measure could be delayed until the end of the week. Critics said the plan was too generous to big corporations and too stingy for working families, USA TODAY reported.

Officials also await disaster unemployment assistance, Dell’Isola said. Disaster unemployment assistance provides weekly checks of a set amount for workers displaced by disaster, which now entails COVID-19. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero is seeking a major disaster declaration for Guam, which, if approved by President Trump, would allow the island to avail of the funds. 

Both pieces of aid would still take weeks to get checks into people’s hands. 

Guam governor: Public Health emergency measures extended to April 13

‘A waiting game’: With no local resources, Guam awaits federal COVID-19 economic relief

‘It’s impossible for anyone to predict’: Layoffs, uncertainty in the face of COVID-19

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero attended a call with the Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. governors, and said that all is being done at the federal level to finalize the coronavirus stimulus package. 

“I know we have some concerns, a lot of concerns about our economy,” said Leon Guerrero. “They’re working everything they can to pass this CARE Act, which would allow a lot of economic stimulus, a lot of economic incentive dollars to our hotel industry, to our businesses. I am really tracking that and I have great confidence that the federal government is prepared and ready to help, not just our territories, but all of the states in the nation.” 

The shut down may stretch longer than April 13, if necessary. The outbreak numbers will determine when the governor lifts the shutdown. 

“Right now, we’re still seeing cases and new, positive cases,” Leon Guerrero said. 

According to a Guam Chamber of Commerce poll, 87% of surveyed businesses reported a negative financial impact. The majority of these businesses turned to layoffs, or reduced employees’ hours. 

Local relief efforts

Guam’s Republican senators introduced Bill 319 on Tuesday, “to provide families and businesses with immediate economic relief during this unprecedented public health crisis.” 

The bill seeks to temporarily reduce business privilege taxes from 5% to 4% from April 1 through Dec. 31.

“We’ve proposed several economic stabilization measures that benefit as many of those who are affected by the pandemic and not any one group of people. These proposals help businesses and individual consumers by reducing taxes and help to maintain if not reduce the costs of goods and services,” said Sen. Telo Taitague. 

Want to stay informed about what’s happening in our community? Download our Guam Pacific Daily News app.

Other measures include authorizing the governor to expedite tax refund payments using unappropriated fiscal 2019 revenue and funds received via reimbursement from the federal government for war claims, and exempting prescription medicines and certain medical supplies from the business privilege tax. 

Attempts to put together an unemployment benefits program on Guam are deferred. An emergency legislative session scheduled for Monday was postponed until further notice. 

Sen. Telena Nelson introduced Bill 313 earlier this month, which would create an unemployment benefits program on Guam. This would allow Guam to avail of federal funds made available through H.R. 6201, which responds to the coronavirus outbreak through various measures, including expanding unemployment benefit programs. 

But even if Nelson’s bill passes, availing of the federal funds may take more time. Guam’s government will have to coordinate with the federal Labor Department to ensure its benefits programs meet federal standards, then the Secretary of Labor would need to certify Guam’s unemployment program. 

Nelson’s Bill 313 would provide benefits only to those who are unemployed. Those who remain employed, but have had hours cut, would not qualify. 

Reporter Anumita Kaur covers military, business and tourism on Guam. Follow her on Twitter @anumitakaur. Reach her at akaur@guampdn.com. 

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero on Tuesday afternoon signed an executive order extending the social isolation mandate and limiting non-essential businesses and government operations through April 13.

More: Medical adviser says COVID-19 could overtake Guam’s health care system by next week

More: Governor encouraged by White House call about federal coronavirus stimulus bill

“We must do more,” Leon Guerrero said a press conference. “Experts say if we don’t cut our spread rate in half to 16.5 percent, our health care system might be overwhelmed by next week. “

Once capacity is reached, Dr. Felix Cabrera said on Monday that, “death rates will skyrocket from here.”

In executive order 2020-06, Leon Guerrero also establishes a unified response effort, tapping on health care providers on Guam.

Leon Guerrero said providers will be broken up into three tiers.

Tier 3

• Guam Memorial Hospital will focus on COVID-19 medical care
• Guam Regional Medical City will focus on non-covid-19 medical care

Tier 2

 Non-COVID-19 urgent care

• American Medical Center
• FHP
• Seventh-day Adventist

Tier 1

• All other health care facilities and providers – will provide all other care.

GovGuam will tap GRMC for non-COVID-19 efforts. Leon Guerrero said this allows GMH to focus on COVID-19 related care.

Tier 1 and Tier 2 providers are to determine people under investigation for COVID-19.

There will be maternal/child health patients who will move from GMH to GRMC in Dededo.

Dr. Mike Cruz said the planned move is still a work in progress.

The public health emergency could extend beyond April 13.  Or it could be called off earlier. The governor said which emergency measures are put in place and how long they stay in place are dependent on the confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Guam.

“Right now we’re still seeing cases, new cases,” she said. “The driver of when we lift the quarantine, the social distancing, going back to school, opening businesses, the driver behind that is going to be how our cases are.”

The governor urged residents to stay home. Even if Guam can flatten the curve and cut the rate of new COVID-19 cases to 16.5% a day, people will still die but it won’t be as devastating as if Guam continues on its current infection trajectory.

Coronavirus (Photo: Getty Images)

Twelve more people have tested positive for coronavirus.

The Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services tested 35 individuals for COVID-19 and 12 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 while 23 tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. 

A total of 153 tests were performed March 12-22. To date, a total of 27 cases tested positive and 126 cases tested negative for COVID-19, according to a news release from the Joint Information Cwnter.

All 26 confirmed cases are in isolation.

The government of Guam is aggressively implementing its COVID-19 response to identify and contain transmission of COVID-19 in Guam and continues to evaluate the situation to enhance response efforts.

As part of the response, Public Health officials may be calling residents from a local landline or mobile phone number to obtain further information. This is not a scam. Public Health doesn’t ask for any financial details during the call. 

Guam COVID-19 positive cases consist of imported cases among international travelers and cases among close contacts of a known case. Community transmission is occurring, the release stated.

Person-to-person spread is thought to happen among people in close contact (about 6 feet) with each other through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread.

The government advises:

• Stay home. Consider ways of getting food brought to your house through family, social, or commercial networks.
• Stock up on supplies.
• Take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others.
• When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often.
• Avoid crowds as much as possible.

It’s important to note 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
• Public Health website: http://dphss.guam.gov/2019-novel-coronvirus-2019-n-cov/
• GHS/OCD website: https://ghs.guam.gov/coronavirus-covid-19

#Outreach: That the world may know

#Prayer Focus: Pray for Our Prodigals

#Praise the Lord

Featured book: https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Service-3-Bruce-Dinsman-ebook

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/93009114

Twitter: @bad671

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dinsmanbruce/

Younow: https://www.younow.com/BruceDinsman

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http://eunsetee.com/nIHx

Governor asks people to ‘hang on’ financially; GovGuam still waits on Congress for help

Anumita Kaur, Pacific Daily NewsPublished 12:44 a.m. ChT March 25, 2020AD0:10

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero holds press briefing on COVID-19 situation on Guam on Tuesday, March 24. 2020. Pacific Daily News

The non-essential business shutdown will stretch until April 13, and so far, there is still no immediate help for residents who have lost work and are looking to make ends meet. 

“I am very concerned about the economy here… everyone is very concerned about the economy. Everyone is seeing the same economic downturn as we are,” Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said during a press conference Tuesday. “But the overriding concern is the health and safety of the people.” 

“Congress is working diligently,” she said. “I’m just asking people to hang on.” 

Guam has no resources of its own to provide assistance to currently displaced workers, according to Guam Department of Labor Director David Dell’Isola. 

Dell’Isola said that everybody’s bills should be deferred if necessary, including rent, loan payments, utilities.

With many renters’ April rent looming, Leon Guerrero echoed this sentiment on Tuesday. 

“Could we be a little more lenient to the renters? Do some kind of deferral of their rent for two or three months? We will make sure (landlords) will get reimbursed for that,” Leon Guerrero said. “This is an economic disaster need.” 21 Photos People under quarantine moved to Pacific Star

Guam Power Authority discontinued power disconnections for the remainder of March. GPA is also recommending to lower customer power bills by reducing the Levelized Energy Adjustment Clause by 18.2%. This awaits approval from the Public Utilities Commission. 

There is no legislation currently on Guam regarding a rent suspension. GovGuam officials are primarily looking at Congress and the White House for aid. 

U.S. senators reached no conclusion Tuesday, Guam time, on a massive coronavirus stimulus package, which includes direct payments to all citizens, including on Guam. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said a vote on the measure could be delayed until the end of the week. Critics said the plan was too generous to big corporations and too stingy for working families, USA TODAY reported.

Officials also await disaster unemployment assistance, Dell’Isola said. Disaster unemployment assistance provides weekly checks of a set amount for workers displaced by disaster, which now entails COVID-19. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero is seeking a major disaster declaration for Guam, which, if approved by President Trump, would allow the island to avail of the funds. 

Both pieces of aid would still take weeks to get checks into people’s hands. 

Guam governor: Public Health emergency measures extended to April 13

‘A waiting game’: With no local resources, Guam awaits federal COVID-19 economic relief

‘It’s impossible for anyone to predict’: Layoffs, uncertainty in the face of COVID-19

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero attended a call with the Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. governors, and said that all is being done at the federal level to finalize the coronavirus stimulus package. 

“I know we have some concerns, a lot of concerns about our economy,” said Leon Guerrero. “They’re working everything they can to pass this CARE Act, which would allow a lot of economic stimulus, a lot of economic incentive dollars to our hotel industry, to our businesses. I am really tracking that and I have great confidence that the federal government is prepared and ready to help, not just our territories, but all of the states in the nation.” 

The shut down may stretch longer than April 13, if necessary. The outbreak numbers will determine when the governor lifts the shutdown. 

“Right now, we’re still seeing cases and new, positive cases,” Leon Guerrero said. 

According to a Guam Chamber of Commerce poll, 87% of surveyed businesses reported a negative financial impact. The majority of these businesses turned to layoffs, or reduced employees’ hours. 

Local relief efforts

Guam’s Republican senators introduced Bill 319 on Tuesday, “to provide families and businesses with immediate economic relief during this unprecedented public health crisis.” 

The bill seeks to temporarily reduce business privilege taxes from 5% to 4% from April 1 through Dec. 31.

“We’ve proposed several economic stabilization measures that benefit as many of those who are affected by the pandemic and not any one group of people. These proposals help businesses and individual consumers by reducing taxes and help to maintain if not reduce the costs of goods and services,” said Sen. Telo Taitague. 

Want to stay informed about what’s happening in our community? Download our Guam Pacific Daily News app.

Other measures include authorizing the governor to expedite tax refund payments using unappropriated fiscal 2019 revenue and funds received via reimbursement from the federal government for war claims, and exempting prescription medicines and certain medical supplies from the business privilege tax. 

Attempts to put together an unemployment benefits program on Guam are deferred. An emergency legislative session scheduled for Monday was postponed until further notice. 

Sen. Telena Nelson introduced Bill 313 earlier this month, which would create an unemployment benefits program on Guam. This would allow Guam to avail of federal funds made available through H.R. 6201, which responds to the coronavirus outbreak through various measures, including expanding unemployment benefit programs. 

But even if Nelson’s bill passes, availing of the federal funds may take more time. Guam’s government will have to coordinate with the federal Labor Department to ensure its benefits programs meet federal standards, then the Secretary of Labor would need to certify Guam’s unemployment program. 

Nelson’s Bill 313 would provide benefits only to those who are unemployed. Those who remain employed, but have had hours cut, would not qualify. 

Reporter Anumita Kaur covers military, business and tourism on Guam. Follow her on Twitter @anumitakaur. Reach her at akaur@guampdn.com. 

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero on Tuesday afternoon signed an executive order extending the social isolation mandate and limiting non-essential businesses and government operations through April 13.

More: Medical adviser says COVID-19 could overtake Guam’s health care system by next week

More: Governor encouraged by White House call about federal coronavirus stimulus bill

“We must do more,” Leon Guerrero said a press conference. “Experts say if we don’t cut our spread rate in half to 16.5 percent, our health care system might be overwhelmed by next week. “

Once capacity is reached, Dr. Felix Cabrera said on Monday that, “death rates will skyrocket from here.”

In executive order 2020-06, Leon Guerrero also establishes a unified response effort, tapping on health care providers on Guam.

Leon Guerrero said providers will be broken up into three tiers.

Tier 3

• Guam Memorial Hospital will focus on COVID-19 medical care
• Guam Regional Medical City will focus on non-covid-19 medical care

Tier 2

 Non-COVID-19 urgent care

• American Medical Center
• FHP
• Seventh-day Adventist

Tier 1

• All other health care facilities and providers – will provide all other care.

GovGuam will tap GRMC for non-COVID-19 efforts. Leon Guerrero said this allows GMH to focus on COVID-19 related care.

Tier 1 and Tier 2 providers are to determine people under investigation for COVID-19.

There will be maternal/child health patients who will move from GMH to GRMC in Dededo.

Dr. Mike Cruz said the planned move is still a work in progress.

The public health emergency could extend beyond April 13.  Or it could be called off earlier. The governor said which emergency measures are put in place and how long they stay in place are dependent on the confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Guam.

“Right now we’re still seeing cases, new cases,” she said. “The driver of when we lift the quarantine, the social distancing, going back to school, opening businesses, the driver behind that is going to be how our cases are.”

The governor urged residents to stay home. Even if Guam can flatten the curve and cut the rate of new COVID-19 cases to 16.5% a day, people will still die but it won’t be as devastating as if Guam continues on its current infection trajectory.

Coronavirus (Photo: Getty Images)

Twelve more people have tested positive for coronavirus.

The Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services tested 35 individuals for COVID-19 and 12 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 while 23 tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. 

A total of 153 tests were performed March 12-22. To date, a total of 27 cases tested positive and 126 cases tested negative for COVID-19, according to a news release from the Joint Information Cwnter.

All 26 confirmed cases are in isolation.

The government of Guam is aggressively implementing its COVID-19 response to identify and contain transmission of COVID-19 in Guam and continues to evaluate the situation to enhance response efforts.

As part of the response, Public Health officials may be calling residents from a local landline or mobile phone number to obtain further information. This is not a scam. Public Health doesn’t ask for any financial details during the call. 

Guam COVID-19 positive cases consist of imported cases among international travelers and cases among close contacts of a known case. Community transmission is occurring, the release stated.

Person-to-person spread is thought to happen among people in close contact (about 6 feet) with each other through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread.

The government advises:

• Stay home. Consider ways of getting food brought to your house through family, social, or commercial networks.
• Stock up on supplies.
• Take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others.
• When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often.
• Avoid crowds as much as possible.

It’s important to note 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
• Public Health website: http://dphss.guam.gov/2019-novel-coronvirus-2019-n-cov/
• GHS/OCD website: https://ghs.guam.gov/coronavirus-covid-19

#Outreach: That the world may know

#Prayer Focus: Pray for Our Prodigals

#Praise the Lord

Featured book: https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Service-3-Bruce-Dinsman-ebook

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/93009114

Twitter: @bad671

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dinsmanbruce/

Younow: https://www.younow.com/BruceDinsman

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/bdinsman/pins/

http://eunsetee.com/nIHx

Governor asks people to ‘hang on’ financially; GovGuam still waits on Congress for help

Anumita Kaur, Pacific Daily NewsPublished 12:44 a.m. ChT March 25, 2020AD0:10

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero holds press briefing on COVID-19 situation on Guam on Tuesday, March 24. 2020. Pacific Daily NewsCONNECTTWEETLINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMORE

The non-essential business shutdown will stretch until April 13, and so far, there is still no immediate help for residents who have lost work and are looking to make ends meet. 

“I am very concerned about the economy here… everyone is very concerned about the economy. Everyone is seeing the same economic downturn as we are,” Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said during a press conference Tuesday. “But the overriding concern is the health and safety of the people.” 

“Congress is working diligently,” she said. “I’m just asking people to hang on.” 

Guam has no resources of its own to provide assistance to currently displaced workers, according to Guam Department of Labor Director David Dell’Isola. 

Dell’Isola said that everybody’s bills should be deferred if necessary, including rent, loan payments, utilities.

With many renters’ April rent looming, Leon Guerrero echoed this sentiment on Tuesday. 

“Could we be a little more lenient to the renters? Do some kind of deferral of their rent for two or three months? We will make sure (landlords) will get reimbursed for that,” Leon Guerrero said. “This is an economic disaster need.” 21 PhotosPeople under quarantine moved to Pacific Star

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Next Slide

Guam Power Authority discontinued power disconnections for the remainder of March. GPA is also recommending to lower customer power bills by reducing the Levelized Energy Adjustment Clause by 18.2%. This awaits approval from the Public Utilities Commission. 

There is no legislation currently on Guam regarding a rent suspension. GovGuam officials are primarily looking at Congress and the White House for aid. 

U.S. senators reached no conclusion Tuesday, Guam time, on a massive coronavirus stimulus package, which includes direct payments to all citizens, including on Guam. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said a vote on the measure could be delayed until the end of the week. Critics said the plan was too generous to big corporations and too stingy for working families, USA TODAY reported.

Officials also await disaster unemployment assistance, Dell’Isola said. Disaster unemployment assistance provides weekly checks of a set amount for workers displaced by disaster, which now entails COVID-19. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero is seeking a major disaster declaration for Guam, which, if approved by President Trump, would allow the island to avail of the funds. 

Both pieces of aid would still take weeks to get checks into people’s hands. 

Guam governor: Public Health emergency measures extended to April 13

‘A waiting game’: With no local resources, Guam awaits federal COVID-19 economic relief

‘It’s impossible for anyone to predict’: Layoffs, uncertainty in the face of COVID-19

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero attended a call with the Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. governors, and said that all is being done at the federal level to finalize the coronavirus stimulus package. 

“I know we have some concerns, a lot of concerns about our economy,” said Leon Guerrero. “They’re working everything they can to pass this CARE Act, which would allow a lot of economic stimulus, a lot of economic incentive dollars to our hotel industry, to our businesses. I am really tracking that and I have great confidence that the federal government is prepared and ready to help, not just our territories, but all of the states in the nation.” 

The shut down may stretch longer than April 13, if necessary. The outbreak numbers will determine when the governor lifts the shutdown. 

“Right now, we’re still seeing cases and new, positive cases,” Leon Guerrero said. 

According to a Guam Chamber of Commerce poll, 87% of surveyed businesses reported a negative financial impact. The majority of these businesses turned to layoffs, or reduced employees’ hours. 

Local relief efforts

Guam’s Republican senators introduced Bill 319 on Tuesday, “to provide families and businesses with immediate economic relief during this unprecedented public health crisis.” 

The bill seeks to temporarily reduce business privilege taxes from 5% to 4% from April 1 through Dec. 31.

“We’ve proposed several economic stabilization measures that benefit as many of those who are affected by the pandemic and not any one group of people. These proposals help businesses and individual consumers by reducing taxes and help to maintain if not reduce the costs of goods and services,” said Sen. Telo Taitague. 

Want to stay informed about what’s happening in our community? Download our Guam Pacific Daily News app.

Other measures include authorizing the governor to expedite tax refund payments using unappropriated fiscal 2019 revenue and funds received via reimbursement from the federal government for war claims, and exempting prescription medicines and certain medical supplies from the business privilege tax. 

Attempts to put together an unemployment benefits program on Guam are deferred. An emergency legislative session scheduled for Monday was postponed until further notice. 

Sen. Telena Nelson introduced Bill 313 earlier this month, which would create an unemployment benefits program on Guam. This would allow Guam to avail of federal funds made available through H.R. 6201, which responds to the coronavirus outbreak through various measures, including expanding unemployment benefit programs. 

But even if Nelson’s bill passes, availing of the federal funds may take more time. Guam’s government will have to coordinate with the federal Labor Department to ensure its benefits programs meet federal standards, then the Secretary of Labor would need to certify Guam’s unemployment program. 

Nelson’s Bill 313 would provide benefits only to those who are unemployed. Those who remain employed, but have had hours cut, would not qualify. 

Reporter Anumita Kaur covers military, business and tourism on Guam. Follow her on Twitter @anumitakaur. Reach her at akaur@guampdn.com. 

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero on Tuesday afternoon signed an executive order extending the social isolation mandate and limiting non-essential businesses and government operations through April 13.

More: Medical adviser says COVID-19 could overtake Guam’s health care system by next week

More: Governor encouraged by White House call about federal coronavirus stimulus bill

“We must do more,” Leon Guerrero said a press conference. “Experts say if we don’t cut our spread rate in half to 16.5 percent, our health care system might be overwhelmed by next week. “

Once capacity is reached, Dr. Felix Cabrera said on Monday that, “death rates will skyrocket from here.”

In executive order 2020-06, Leon Guerrero also establishes a unified response effort, tapping on health care providers on Guam.

Leon Guerrero said providers will be broken up into three tiers.

Tier 3

• Guam Memorial Hospital will focus on COVID-19 medical care
• Guam Regional Medical City will focus on non-covid-19 medical care

Tier 2

 Non-COVID-19 urgent care

• American Medical Center
• FHP
• Seventh-day Adventist

Tier 1

• All other health care facilities and providers – will provide all other care.

GovGuam will tap GRMC for non-COVID-19 efforts. Leon Guerrero said this allows GMH to focus on COVID-19 related care.

Tier 1 and Tier 2 providers are to determine people under investigation for COVID-19.

There will be maternal/child health patients who will move from GMH to GRMC in Dededo.

Dr. Mike Cruz said the planned move is still a work in progress.

The public health emergency could extend beyond April 13.  Or it could be called off earlier. The governor said which emergency measures are put in place and how long they stay in place are dependent on the confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Guam.

“Right now we’re still seeing cases, new cases,” she said. “The driver of when we lift the quarantine, the social distancing, going back to school, opening businesses, the driver behind that is going to be how our cases are.”

The governor urged residents to stay home. Even if Guam can flatten the curve and cut the rate of new COVID-19 cases to 16.5% a day, people will still die but it won’t be as devastating as if Guam continues on its current infection trajectory.

Coronavirus (Photo: Getty Images)

Twelve more people have tested positive for coronavirus.

The Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services tested 35 individuals for COVID-19 and 12 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 while 23 tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. 

A total of 153 tests were performed March 12-22. To date, a total of 27 cases tested positive and 126 cases tested negative for COVID-19, according to a news release from the Joint Information Cwnter.

All 26 confirmed cases are in isolation.

The government of Guam is aggressively implementing its COVID-19 response to identify and contain transmission of COVID-19 in Guam and continues to evaluate the situation to enhance response efforts.

As part of the response, Public Health officials may be calling residents from a local landline or mobile phone number to obtain further information. This is not a scam. Public Health doesn’t ask for any financial details during the call. 

Guam COVID-19 positive cases consist of imported cases among international travelers and cases among close contacts of a known case. Community transmission is occurring, the release stated.

Person-to-person spread is thought to happen among people in close contact (about 6 feet) with each other through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread.

The government advises:

• Stay home. Consider ways of getting food brought to your house through family, social, or commercial networks.
• Stock up on supplies.
• Take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others.
• When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often.
• Avoid crowds as much as possible.

It’s important to note 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
• Public Health website: http://dphss.guam.gov/2019-novel-coronvirus-2019-n-cov/
• GHS/OCD website: https://ghs.guam.gov/coronavirus-covid-19

#Outreach: That the world may know

#Prayer Focus: Pray for Our Prodigals

#Praise the Lord

Featured book: https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Service-3-Bruce-Dinsman-ebook

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/93009114

Twitter: @bad671

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dinsmanbruce/

Younow: https://www.younow.com/BruceDinsman

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http://eunsetee.com/nIHx

12 more on Guam test positive for coronavirus

Duane M. George, Pacific Daily NewsPublished 9:06 p.m. ChT March 22, 2020CONNECTTWEETLINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMORE

Coronavirus (Photo: Getty Images)

Twelve more people have tested positive for coronavirus.

The Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services tested 35 individuals for COVID-19 and 12 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 while 23 tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. 

A total of 153 tests were performed March 12-22. To date, a total of 27 cases tested positive and 126 cases tested negative for COVID-19, according to a news release from the Joint Information Cwnter.

All 26 confirmed cases are in isolation.

The government of Guam is aggressively implementing its COVID-19 response to identify and contain transmission of COVID-19 in Guam and continues to evaluate the situation to enhance response efforts.

As part of the response, Public Health officials may be calling residents from a local landline or mobile phone number to obtain further information. This is not a scam. Public Health doesn’t ask for any financial details during the call. 

Guam COVID-19 positive cases consist of imported cases among international travelers and cases among close contacts of a known case. Community transmission is occurring, the release stated.

Person-to-person spread is thought to happen among people in close contact (about 6 feet) with each other through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread.

The government advises:

• Stay home. Consider ways of getting food brought to your house through family, social, or commercial networks.
• Stock up on supplies.
• Take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others.
• When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often.
• Avoid crowds as much as possible.

It’s important to note 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
• Public Health website: http://dphss.guam.gov/2019-novel-coronavirus-2019-n-cov/
• GHS/OCD website: https://ghs.guam.gov/coronavirus-covid-19

#Outreach: That the world may know

#Prayer Focus: Pray for Our Prodigals

#Praise the Lord

Please follow my blogs  Guam Christian Blog

Guam views Blog

Bruce’s Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bruce.dinsman

Featured book: https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Service-3-Bruce-Dinsman-ebook

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/93009114

Twitter: @bad671

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dinsmanbruce/

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http://eunsetee.com/nIHx

Coronavirus update: 4 new cases on Guam

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released laboratory test kits for the 2019 novel coronavirus or COVID-19. The kit is shown in this CDC photo. (Photo: Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

There are an additional four cases of coronavirus on Guam.

The Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services tested 16 individuals for COVID-19 on Thursday and four tested positive, according to a news release from the Joint Information Center.

To date there now are 12 people who have tested positive; 69 people have tested negative for COVID-19.

Of the four new cases, one had travel history, while the others had no travel history.

Public Health continues contact tracing for the 12 positive COVID-19 cases, which includes identifying close contacts of the individuals, such as family members and co-workers, who will be quarantined and actively monitored for 14 days after their last contact with the case.

GovGuam has instituted COVID-19 mandatory quarantine protocol measures for all incoming travelers without health credentials.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero signed Executive Order 2020-05 which further prohibits large gatherings and mandatory social isolation, effective noon Friday.

Person-to-person spread is thought to happen among people in close contact (about 6 feet) with each other through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread.

The government advises:

• Stay home. Consider ways of getting food brought to your house through family, social, or commercial networks.
• Stock up on supplies.
• Take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others.
• When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often.
• Avoid crowds as much as possible.

It’s important to note 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
• Public Health website: http://dphss.guam.gov/2019-novel-coronavirus-2019-n-cov/
• GHS/OCD website: https://ghs.guam.gov/coronavirus-covid-19

#Outreach: That the world may know

#Prayer Focus: Pray for Our Prodigals

#Praise the Lord

Please follow my blogs  Guam Christian Blog

Guam views Blog

Bruce’s Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bruce.dinsman

Featured book: https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Service-3-Bruce-Dinsman-ebook

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/93009114

Twitter: @bad671

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dinsmanbruce/

Younow: https://www.younow.com/BruceDinsman

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/bdinsman/pins/

http://eunsetee.com/nIHx