Public Health issues clarifications about quarantine

Public Health issues more clarifications and guidance for the quarantine of arriving passengers to Guam, some were made as a result of petitions that have been filed in the superior court, while others were already in the works to be updated.

Public Health late Monday night issued its latest guidance: 12 pages worth of clarifications and new mandates.  Public Health spokesperson Janela Carrera saying there's three main changes. The first is to comply with a recent court order. As we reported Janella Cruz and her two sons were freed from quarantine. Cruz was forced into quarantine after picking up her children who just arrived from Saipan at the airport. Although she said she filled out the proper forms and was granted approvals from Public Health before her children arrived, they were still forced to go to the government's quarantine facility in Tumon.

"That is one of the requirements that the judge had ordered that we make that updated in our guidance, so yes that's one of the updates we had to make for unaccompanied minors that they go to home quarantine so that was one of the changes that we made," clarified Carrera.

Another change according to Carrera dependents and spouses of critical service workers and essential healthcare professionals with a negative test result will be allowed to home quarantine or at their rental lodging location.

And finally, according to the latest public health guideline arriving passengers will be officially notified of their rights.

She said, "We're also letting quarantined passengers know of their right to legal counsel should they refuse to sign the initial voluntary requirement the initial volunteer quarantine. If they refuse to sign voluntary quarantine then  we notify them of involuntary quarantine and provide them with article six also notify them that they have the right to legal counsel."

Meanwhile, unless you're granted an exemption, it's status quo that all arriving passengers to Guam will be subject to 14 days quarantine at a GovGuam quarantine facility. 

The controversy over quarantine is among the topics being discussed by the Governor’s Physicians Advisory Group today. Member Dr. Hoa Nguyen says the latest guidance issued by Public Health has created confusion regarding protocols. Dr. Nguyen says during this evening’s meeting recommendations will be made regarding a possible 7 day test out of quarantine program. Talks will also focus on opening up more businesses.

"It has to be the whole physicians advisory group on what business will open and not we recommend that to the governor and she will approve or not approve so that's everyone want to open I want to open so I think we are in apposition now that GMH has decreased in its census they have some critical care nurse coming in I think they have 38 of them from the states are here so it's a good a very encouraging that we move in the right direction," he said.

The meeting is scheduled for 5pm today.