The surgeon general of the United States says Guam can bring the COVID-19 virus under control in a matter of weeks. He says the island just needs to come together.  It was a very encouraging message from Dr. Jerome Adams.

Speaking at a news conference organized by the Governor's Office, he urged strict community-wide compliance with public health directives. "Reject that false comparison between you're either for health or you're for reopening. The fact is, the way that we get to reopening as your governor has said time and again, is to suppress this virus," said Dr Adams.

"Please understand that the way that we avoid lockdowns or shorten lockdowns is by following these basic public health measures, and we can in two to six weeks get this virus under control. And I know that that sounds like I'm being Polyanna-ish, but that is the biology of the disease. If we do the right things now, and we do it hard core for two to three weeks, we'll start to see cases trend down," he theorized.

 
Dr. Adams also predicts the U.S. will have a viable vaccine by the end of the year, and Guam will be included in the federal government's plan to vaccinate millions of high-risk Americans.

"We have identified that the elderly, people with chronic medical conditions, followed by healthcare workers should be the first in line to get the vaccine, and again unfortunately Guam has more than its share of the vulnerable population, so you will be getting the vaccine," he promised.

But for now, the surgeon general says the goal must be to drive down the disease transmission, and especially on Guam asymptomatic infections among family members.

"You've done this before Guam, and you can do it again. And if you all get really serious, and make some sacrifices now, we know that by Christmas you can have the virus at low enough rates to feel more comfortable celebrating the holidays," he said.

The governor says she will be putting out a call to action for strict adherence to the Three W's: wear a mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance. Plus a fourth W, raised by the surgeon general: Willpower.