JIC RELEASE NO. 61 - Profiles of Earlier Confirmed Cases; Additional Guidance on Essential Services; Curfew Enforcement for Minors; Acceptable Face Coverings; Guidance for Employers

The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) tested 32 individuals for COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 with conclusive results. Eight tested positive through DPHSS and 24 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 124 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 122 cases tested positive and two were clinically diagnosed with 31 recoveries and four deaths. As this is an evolving situation, information is subject to change with little to no notice.

Additional Guidance on Essential Services
DPHSS has issued Guidance Memo 2020-05 to provide further clarification on what business operations are deemed essential services and those businesses and areas that are prohibited from operations and/or congregations.

In line with mitigating and containing the spread of COVID-19, the Guam Police Department’s (GPD) Juvenile Investigation Division continues to enforce the curfew laws, in coordination with the Department of Youth Affairs (DYA). GPD reminds the parents and legal guardians of minors to do their part to exercise social responsibility by talking to their children about how they can stop the spread of COVID-19 by staying home and not coming into close contact with others. 

Between April 1 through April 7, GPD’s curfew enforcement efforts resulted in 17 minors taken into custody for curfew violation and all released back to their parents or legal guardians. The curfew laws are pursuant to Guam Code Annotated Title 9 Chapter 31-65 and will continue to be enforced.  

1. Curfew Hours means:
   1. 10:00 p.m. on any Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday until 6:00 a.m. of the following day; and
   2. 12:01 a.m. until 6:00 a.m. on any Saturday or Sunday
   3. A minor is defined as any person under seventeen (17) years of age

As defined in Subsection (b) offenses: 

1. A minor commits an offense if he or she remains in any public place or on the premises of any establishment on Guam during the curfew hours.
2. A parent or guardian of a minor commits an offense if he or she knowingly permits, or by insufficient control allows, the minor to remain in any public place or on the premises of any establishment on Guam during curfew hours.
3. The owner, operator, or any employee of an establishment commits an offense if he knowingly allows a minor to remain upon the premises of the establishment during curfew hours. 

As defined in subsection (e) Penalties:

1. A person who violates a provision of this Chapter is guilty of a separate offense for each day or part of a day during which the violation is committed, continued, or permitted.  Each offense, upon conviction, is punishable by a fine not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500).

Guidance for Acceptable Face Coverings
As directed in Executive Order No. 2020-09, all essential businesses and government agencies shall require all employees and patrons to wear face masks while on the premises. The community is advised that face coverings do not need to be medical grade face masks. Surgical masks and N95 respirators are in short supply and should be reserved for healthcare workers or other medical first responders, as recommended by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance. Cloth face coverings can be made from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost. For more information, visit the CDC website on the subject at  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-faq.html.

Face coverings are not a substitute for social distancing. 

COVID-19 Guidance for Employers 
DPHSS provides guidance for employers from both the Government of Guam and the private sector for employees who were advised to quarantine for reasons related to COVID-19. There is no official quarantine order or document served to employees who complete their 14-day self-quarantine. Once the 14-day self-quarantine period is complete, the employee’s health care provider should conduct an evaluation prior to allowing the employee to return back to work. A doctor’s note is not required. To download Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 2020-05, visit the DPHSS website at http://dphss.guam.gov/covid-19-general-resources/. 

For inquiries on COVID-19, contact 311 through a local number, or call the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10.

2020-05 re Additional Guidance Relative to Executive Order Nos. 2020-04, 05, 06, 07, and 09