38th COVID-19 death in Guam

Guam reported its 38th COVID-19 death yesterday, a 76-year-old woman with underlying health conditions that were made worse by the virus.

According to a Joint Information Center statement, the latest fatality was already a patient at the Guam Memorial Hospital where she was transferred after testing positive last Sept. 18 at the Guam Regional Medical City. She was pronounced dead yesterday at about 6:55am

Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero expressed her deep condolences in the same JIC statement. “As the dawn broke and many of us were starting our day, we lost our 38th individual to COVID-19. As an island still in mourning, her passing is a great loss to our community. To those she cherished, [first gentleman] Jeff [Cook], Lt. Gov. Josh [Tenorio], and I send our condolences and our collective hearts are heavy with sympathy,” said Leon Guerrero.

In a time like this, Leon Guerrero said, the island needs more unity and not division, that everyone on the island has a role in stopping the virus and prevent more deaths. “Our front-liners need our help. Wear your masks, social distance, and stay home—these simple actions can make a big difference.”

Guam’s death toll in one week alone has become a grim tally that seem to add one per day. Its 37th death was a 52-year-old female with underlying conditions that were compounded by COVID-19. She was admitted to GMH last Sept. 5 and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 upon admission. She was pronounced dead last Sept. 22 at about 2:18pm at GMH.

Before her, Guam’s 36th death was a 65-year-old man who was a known COVID-19 case. He was transferred to GMH from GRMC on Aug. 21, and succumbed last Sept. 22 at about 1:08pm.

Guam also saw its 35th death this week—a 56-year-old man with underlying health conditions that were compounded by COVID-19. He was pronounced dead on arrival last Sept. 20 at approximately 9:45pm at the GRMC. He was swabbed and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 upon arrival on Sept. 20.

COVID-19 on Saipan

According to United Airlines Saipan station manager Dave Baker, any United aircraft that arrives on the days that the CNMI is accepting flights is decontaminated after every passenger gets off, and that that they have also implemented electrostatic spraying. A fine mist comes out of the electrostatic spray and onto every surface, top to bottom, of the aircraft. Baker said that they spray the seats, overhead bins, and anything that’s being touched on the airplane, which includes the seats, seatbelt, window shades.

According to Baker, the decontamination spraying of the aircraft takes about 10 minutes, which is then left to dry. POI Aviation is also involved with the aircraft cleaning.