COVID base policy allowing congregation is 'scary' chief public health officer says

The Government of Guam may not have jurisdiction to enforce its guidelines on military bases but it's not stopping Public Health from sounding off on a pair of videos gone viral.

What's not surprising is another military ship pulling into Naval Station Guam Safe Haven for rest and relaxation. But what is surprising is video circulating of sailors clearly not wearing masks and practicing social distancing.

"I don't know why they aren't taking it as seriously as the people of Guam are," Dr. Suzanne Kaneshiro, Department of Public Health and Social Services chief public health officer said. "Right and so I tell you it only takes one person to introduce COVID to that ship. And that whole ship will go down like the Roosevelt."

Although Joint Region Marianas did not address the video directly, a press release sent out of over the weekend stated: "Since the majority of the USS Ronald Reagan team has remained sequestered ashore, aboard ship and at sea for more than 100 days, the wear of masks and social distancing will not be required by the crew while in open-air off-ship."

But it's not just that video that has the community and Public Health sounding off. This video sent by a viewer of beachgoers at Tarague. When the governor issued her stay at home order she also banned the use of public beaches and parks.

"I'm telling you it's scary especially all these positive we're getting the community has it's a lot of positive outside the base and it only takes one person to go in there may be a retiree or somebody like a guard person go in there right you don't know they might not know they're positive," Kaneshiro said. "Because it's asymptomatic really it's scary that they're ignoring all these protocols not to congregate, no partying, the barbequing, stay home and so it is really scary to be honest."

The closure of public parks and beaches is so serious that the Guam Police Department plans to issue citations for criminal trespass to those violating the stay at home order.