Guam: Authorities introduce lockdown until August 28 /update 3

Event

Guam's governor, Lourdes Leon Guerrero, announced the introduction of lockdown measures until Friday, August 28, due to an increase in detected cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) effective from 12:00 (local time) on Friday, August 21. All businesses have been closed with the exception of stores selling food, pharmacies, gas stations, hardware stores, and facilities critical to providing healthcare. Residents are only permitted to leave their homes for essential reasons. All parks and beaches have been closed. All gatherings are also prohibited. Schools have closed with in-person teaching only permitted if deemed critical by the Guam Department of Education.

All travelers arriving in Guam are required to undertake a 14-day quarantine in a government facility.

Authorities announced on August 7 the reintroduction of certain restrictions due to an increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. All bars in Guam were ordered to close on August 8. Guerrero also stated the current public health emergency would likely be extended beyond August 29.

As of August 21, health authorities have confirmed 767 COVID-19 cases and six associated deaths in Guam. Further spread of the virus is expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed. Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly, and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.