Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

For Guam as of March 31, 2020

Positive Cases

Deaths

Recovered

ALL INBOUND PASSENGERS TO GUAM WILL SERVE A MANDATORY QUARANTINE FOR 14 DAYS AT A GOVERNMENT FACILITY.

Click here for the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services Mandatory Quarantine Directive

JOINT INFORMATION CENTER (JIC) RELEASES

EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND JOINT NEWS RELEASES

  • DPHSS Guidance Memo. 2020-02 – March 28, 2020 – Additional Guidance Relative to Executive Order Nos. 2020-04, 05, 06, and 07

ENGLISH    CHUUKESE    MARSHALLESE    

TAGALOG    ILOCANO    KOREAN    JAPANESE

TRADITIONAL CHINESE    SIMPLIFIED CHINESE    

 

Click to download – Stay Home Stay Connected

Click to download – COVID-19 Kids Coloring Book

Tips for the General Public 4x11″ , 8.5x11″ , 18x24″

General Public Stop Germs Wash Hands 4x11″ , 8.5x11″ , 18x24″

Kids & Teens Stop Germs Wash Hands 4x11″ , 8.5x11″ , 18x24″

Kids & Teens Stop the Spread 4x11″ , 8.5x11″ , 18x24″

COVID-19 Character Educational Videos by Dr. Benjie Santiago, GDOE Teacher

At-Home Workouts with Dr. Benjie Santiago, Paradise Fitness Center Instructor

Click here for more from Dr. Benjie Santiago, GDOE Teacher and Paradise Fitness Center Instructor!

COVID-19 Guidelines on Guam

On March 14, 2020, Governor Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero declared a State of Emergency on Guam to respond to COVID-19. Here’s what this means for Guam:

Work and School:

  • Until March 30, 2020, all non-essential government of Guam offices are closed and the services they offer suspended. If you are essential personnel, you will be contacted by appropriate supervisors to report to work.
  • All public and private schools on Guam (pre-K through 12th grade) are closed until March 30, 2020. Student absences connected to the transmission of COVID-19 will not be counted for truancy.
  • Places of business with more than 50 people in attendance shall have no more than 50% occupancy and seat no more than 50% of capacity. This does not apply to businesses providing food or necessities (e.g., grocery and convenience stores), hospitals, pharmacies, or other medical offices/facilities. This Order is not intended to prohibit routine business gatherings held at the place of business.

Social Activities:

  • Gatherings of 50 people or more in a single room or single space at the same time for social, spirtual, and recreational activities are prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to: community, civic, public, leisure, faith-based, or sporting events, parades, concerts, festivals, fiestas, conventions, fundraisers, and similar activities.
  • Social distancing of at leat 6 feet, frequent cleaning of all services, posting signs, and permitting/encouraging teleworking are all expected.
  • Older residents with pre-existing medical conditions should limit excursions away from home of any type.

Travel:

  • All travelers to Guam shall will be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival unless they possess a DPHSS certified document that proves they are not infected with COVID-19 
  • Guam residents and those with ties to the community will be permitted to self-quarantine at home if the home is deemed suitable. Otherwise, travelers will be transported to an approved quarantine site. 
  • EXCEPTION: ALL travelers from the Philippines who do not have a DPHSS-certified document will be transported to an approved quarantine site. 
  • Any and all costs associated with this quarantine and/or treatment will be the responsibility of the individual.

 Please see Executive Order 2020-04 (attached above) for the specific guidelines issued by the Governor’s office.

COVID-19: What You Should Know

Washing Hands Saves Lives

What Older Adults Need to Know

Elderly individuals and those with comorbidities (chronic diseases or other sicknesses) are most vulnerable to adverse health outcomes from COVID-19. Here is what you need to know to keep them safe.

 

The Basics

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are typically found in animals, but in some instances, can infect humans and spread by person-to-person transmission, which is happening with COVID-19. Both MERS and SARS were coronaviruses that originated in bats. COVID-19 originated in Wuhan, China and the vast majority of the confirmed cases across the world are located there. Patients testing positive for COVID-19 have also been identified in 28 other countries, including the Philippines, Japan, and United States. Severity of the disease ranges from mild, cold-like symptoms to death. Continue reading for more information.

Click Here

How it Spreads

Current understanding about how the virus causing COVID-19 spreads is largely based on what is known about similar coronaviruses. 

The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person:

  • Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet)
  • Via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes 
  • These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs

It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. 

People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest). Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this with this coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. 

How easily a virus spreads from person-to-person can vary. Some viruses are highly contagious (like measles), while other viruses are less so. The virus that causes COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in Hubei province and other parts of China. In the United States, spread from person-to-person has occurred only among a few close contacts and has not spread any further to date. 

COVID-19 is an emerging disease and there is more to learn about its transmissibility, severity, and other features and what will happen in Guam. 

Prevention

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent infection is to follow basic health etiquette: 

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

Signs and Symptoms

For confirmed COVID-19 cases, reported illnesses have ranged from people with little to no symptoms to people being severely ill and dying. Symptoms can include:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath

CDC believes at this time that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure. 

If you have the symptoms above AND have traveled to China within the last 14 days or have come into close contact with someone has, you should seek medical care immediately. If  you have not traveled to China within the last 14 days or have not come into close contact with someone who has, there is no reason to believe these symptoms are COVID-19. However, you should seek medical care anyway as these symptoms could be the result of another illness. 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Healthcare Personnel

More Information on PPE