FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (March 31, 2020 – Hagåtña, Guam) – After trying to gain consensus on ways to deal with social distancing concerns, Senator Therese Terlaje continues to advocate for legislative business to move forward.

The Senator stated that she is working around the clock to ensure that the Legislature stays abreast of this rapidly evolving situation and does its part to address any impediments or concerns raised.

“Previous legislatures carefully transferred broad powers to the Governor and the Public Health Director during a public health emergency so that lives could be saved.  It is impossible for any legislature to have anticipated the unprecedented effects on the healthcare system, workers, and families that we are facing today. Today, Congress and legislatures across the nation are taking unprecedented action to enhance survival. We must do the same.

It is the Guam Legislature’s duty to bring stability to chaos, to promote transparency, and to find justice for all patients, workers and families affected.  This is done through deliberation and hard work, despite the challenging and rapidly changing conditions.  I am not deterred by the unexpected delay, but caution that the calling and cancelling of session should never be political.  As a separate and unique branch of government, senators must put the best interests of the people first.

Our priority must be on acting deliberately together as a body to ensure health and safety, and to bring rapid economic relief to the people of Guam.”

Under separate cover, Senator Terlaje also sent letters to both Dafne Shimizu, Director of Department of Revenue and Taxation, and Edward Birn, Director of Department of Administration, to urge the immediate payment of all processed tax refunds. According to a report filed as of February 2020, there were 4,398 refund returns processed but unpaid. In addition, there were 1,741 returns still unprocessed for tax year 2018 and 619+ for tax year 2019.

“While our residents potentially wait weeks for federal assistance, there is nothing stopping the administration from prioritizing outstanding refunds for immediate relief. The Guam Legislature has already appropriated the funding through the FY2019 and FY2020 budgets and by statute, required deposits to be made. No additional legislation could further ensure these refunds are prioritized.  That responsibility falls squarely on the Executive Branch.”

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (March 20, 2020 – Hagåtña, Guam) —The Legislature’s Committee on Health is encouraged by news that the newly converted COVID SNF Isolation facility has opened the first of three wings to receive patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently receiving medical care. 

The recently constructed A Wing can accommodate up to 20 people and the B & C wings can then be opened to accommodate 40 more patients for a total of 60, should the need arise.

There are multiple levels of contingency plans put in place by Linda DeNorcey and the team at the Department of Public Health and Social Services, together with GMHA and other government agencies and healthcare facilities, if expansion beyond the COVID SNF becomes necessary.

We continue to closely monitor our progress and are aware that there is still much work that needs to be done as we fight this unprecedented threat to the health, safety and security of the people of Guam.

Additionally, we have confirmed and would like to remind the public of the following:

-Pharmacies will remain open and are operating full time to handle increased demand while incorporating increased social distance precautions for patients.

-Insurance companies, and Medicaid and MIP have all authorized early and extended refills to decrease contact and facilitate sheltering in place especially of our most vulnerable patients.

-Insurance companies and providers on Guam have now worked out parameters for increased Telehealth during this pandemic emergency which will also help keep people safely at home.

-Providers are stepping up triage and urgent care methods that limit the risk of cross-infection of other patients and relieve the hospital.

-DPHSS is accepting new applications and renewals online for all public welfare benefits, including SNAP, Medicaid, and MIP. dphss.guam.gov/bes-resources/.

-DPHSS is also handling prior authorization requests from health providers via fax. 

-DPHSS has advised that more COVID-19 test kits are expected to arrive early next week.

My colleagues and I are fully aware of the layoffs and economic impacts to tourism industry and affecting all of Guam, and are committed to putting measures in place to assist all those impacted, who cannot be made whole through existing local or federal programs.

While our health professionals and other first responders are putting themselves and their families at risk, the rest of us need to shelter in place and work from home to save the lives of our Manamko’, our dialysis and cancer patients and all those with immunocompromised conditions.

We will not get a second chance to get this right. Whether the government is mandating you or not, please stay home and anticipate that many in the community may be carrying the virus without symptoms. Do not take a chance on exposure to the virus. Let us increase precautions by sheltering in place, to save the lives of our frontline workers and those we love.