JIC RELEASE NO. 65 - Initiative to Reach Businesses Impacted by COVID-19; DoAg Updates

JIC RELEASE NO. 65 - Initiative to Reach Businesses Impacted by COVID-19; DoAg Updates

JIC RELEASE NO. 65 - Initiative to Reach Businesses Impacted by COVID-19; DoAg Updates


4/10/2020

Joint Information Center - JIC Release No. 65
April 10, 2020, 11:30 a.m. (ChST)

Initiative to Reach Businesses Impacted by COVID-19;
DoAg Updates

The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) tested 34 individuals for COVID-19 on Thursday, April 9, 2020 with conclusive results. Three tested positive through DPHSS and 31 tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. Additional results will be provided later this evening once today’s test results are finalized.

Unified Outreach Efforts for Business Community

In a unified effort, the Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB), the Guam Hotel & Restaurant Association (GHRA) and the Guam Chamber of Commerce will be reaching out to their collective membership to assist businesses impacted by COVID-19. Called the Membership Outreach Movement (MOM), hybrid teams from the three membership based organizations will contact an estimated 800 businesses to help with organizing information for economic relief options available.

The information collected will assist the Guam Department of Labor with preparing employers and employees to access federal assistance programs. Businesses are advised to anticipate direct communication from representatives from GHRA, GVB and the Chamber beginning Monday, April 13, 2020.

2020 Deer Hunting Season Extended

The Department of Agriculture’s (DoAg) Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources has extended the deer hunting season from April 1 to September 30, 2020 at no additional cost to hunters. Hunting is permitted on Government of Guam properties as well as private property, with the landowner’s permission. A current FY2020 hunting license is required. Only those licensed will be authorized to hunt. To limit public interactions, no new licenses will be sold.

Hunters will not be required to use deer tags. The regulation will be suspended for this season in order to ease the financial obligation of paying for tags. All social distancing measures must be followed. Hunting groups should be limited in size to a maximum of three people, from within the same household or family unit, in compliance with Executive Order 2020-09. During hunting outings, wear personal protective equipment to keep yourself safe. Keep a distance of six feet or more between yourself and anyone else. For more information, email DAWR Wildlife at wildlife@doag.guam.gov.

Special Fishing Permit Available

DoAg, in accordance with Section 63123 of Title 5, Guam Code Annotated (GCA) is issuing a special permit to allow the harvest of juvenile rabbit fish (Manahak), juvenile fusiliers (Achemson), juvenile goatfish (Ti’ao), juvenile jacks (I’e), and scad mackerel (Atulai), within the Åchang Bay Preserve and Piti Bomb Holes Marine Preserve, for food security during this public health emergency declaration as well as for cultural educational purposes to ensure this traditional fishing practice continues for future generations.

The harvest of these species is dependent on conditions specified below:

  1. ALL SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES MUST BE FOLLOWED. The purpose of focusing on the use of talåya and hook-and-line is to protect our community by limiting fishing to a single-person activity. Please keep a distance of six feet or more between yourself and anyone else.
  2. Only the use of talåya nets (cast nets) or hook-and-line for the harvest of Manahak, Achemson, Ti’ao, and I’e is allowed from shore for a period from April 04 - April 30, 2020.
  3. I’e and tiao harvested shall not be longer than 4-inches long.
  4. Manahak shall not be longer than 3-inches long.
  5. While fishing for Manahak, Achemson, Ti’ao, and I’e under this permit, entry into the water is only allowed to retrieve the talåya after casting the net.
  6. The harvest of any marine species other than Manahak, Achemson, Ti’ao, I’e, and Atulai, in the preserve is PROHIBITED. Immediate removal and release of non-target species from the net is required.

For inquiries on COVID-19, contact 311 through a local number, or call the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10.

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