JIC RELEASE NO. 124 - Updated COVID-19 Case Number; Types of COVID-19 Tests; Beware of Scams Related to COVID-19 Economic Payments - 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.

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.

On May 12, 2020, the Joint Information Center reported one positive case of COVID-19 from the Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC). A confirmatory test was run on this sample by the Guam Public Health Laboratory (GPHL), which returned as negative. Upon further assessment, the patient was not considered a probable case. All positive tests conducted at GRMC will undergo confirmatory testing at GPHL.

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

Testing for COVID-19
Two kinds of tests are available for COVID-19: viral tests and antibody tests.

A viral test tells you if you have a current infection.
An antibody test tells you if you had a previous infection.

An antibody test may not be able to show if you have a current infection, because it can take 1-3 weeks after infection to make antibodies. We do not know yet if having antibodies to the virus can protect someone from getting infected with the virus again, or how long that protection might last.

Who should be tested
To learn if you have a current infection, viral tests are used. But not everyone needs this test.

Most people will have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care and may not need to be tested.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and want to get tested, call your health care provider first or call the DPHSS Medical Triage Hotline.
DPHSS is currently focusing areas where infection may occur due to lack of access to health care and in facilities where the vulnerable population resides.

Results

If you test positive for COVID-19 by a viral test, know what protective steps to take if you are sick or caring for someone.
If you test negative for COVID-19 by a viral test, you probably were not infected at the time your sample was collected. However, that does not mean you will not get sick. The test result only means that you did not have COVID-19 at the time of testing.

If you test positive or negative for COVID-19, no matter the type of test, you still should take preventive measures to protect yourself and others.

Contact DPHSS Online

The Department of Public Health and Social Services wishes to inform the public that they may contact DPHSS through its website at dphss.guam.gov. Through the web portal, the public may submit complaints and concerns of any nature. DPHSS also welcomes feedback and comments about the services it provides. The public can expect a response within 24 to 48 hours.

Desktop Computer Instructions

Click on "Contact Us" on the top right-hand corner of the page.
Type in your name, phone, email, and message. Enter in the correct numerical value. Press submit.

Mobile Phone Instructions

Click on the "Contact DPHSS" Button.
Type in your name, phone, email, and message. Enter in the correct numerical value. Press submit.

You may also contact the following divisions directly:

Division of Public Health (DPH): PublicHealth@dphss.guam.gov
Division of Senior Citizens (DSC): Biba.SeniorCitizens@dphss.guam.gov
Division of Public Welfare (DPW): PublicAssistance@dphss.guam.gov
Division of Environmental Health (DEH): dphss-DEH@dphss.guam.gov
Division of General Administration (DGA): Gen.Admin@dphss.guam.gov

Avoid Fake Social Media Accounts and Scams Related to COVID-19 Economic Payments

The Joint Information Center is aware of a fake Instagram account posing as Lieutenant Governor Josh Tenorio. The false Instagram account is using the name “lt_governor_of_guam.”

The reported fake account is not connected to any official account from the Office of the Governor or the Office of the Lt. Governor or any official announcement regarding COVID-19 economic payments. Lt. Governor Tenorio’s official Instagram account can be found at @jtenogu.

The community is reminded to be on the lookout for scam artists trying to use the economic impact payments as cover schemes to steal personal information and/or money. Remember, the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) will not call, text you, email you or contact you on social media asking for personal or bank account information – even related to the economic impact payments. Also, watch out for emails with attachments or links claiming to have special information about economic impact payments or refunds.

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. 124 - Updated COVID-19 Case Number; Types of COVID-19 Tests; Beware of Scams Related to COVID-19 Economic Payments