Like many other Pacific Islands, the population of Guam has been affected by the arrival of COVID-19. On March 14, Guam’s Governor, Lou Leon Guerrero, declared a public health emergency, suspending non-essential government operations and banning large gatherings to minimize the spread of COVID-19 on the island. Practically, this means that schools are closed, parks and beaches are closed and all businesses considered non-essential are closed as well.

As a transportation and logistics company critical in supporting Guam’s supply chain, DeWitt Guam is considered an essential business. Both DeWitt Guam and our DeWitt sister companies will continue to remain open and operational to keep both household relocations and freight services moving forward.

As the situation has unfolded, we’ve gotten a lot of questions from current and potential customers. If you’re considering a move to Guam or planning to send a freight shipment to the island, we’ve put together an update to answer most of the common questions we’ve received.

Household Moves Guam Continue as Planned

In our capacity as “an essential business,” DeWitt Guam is currently moving individuals and families, including our members of the military, to Guam.

If you’re planning to make Guam your home, there’s one item you should be aware of: All arriving individuals to Guam are subject to a 14-day quarantine in a government facility. You’ll find more information on the quarantine rules below.

The safety of our customers, our employees, and the residents of Guam has been top of mind for us since the initial outbreak was announced. Many of our employees are working from home, in accordance with social distancing guidelines.

However, when it comes to household moves, working remotely isn’t an option. As such, we have instructed our teams to take extra precautions when interacting with customers to help ensure everyone’s safety. There may be a few instances where we feel it may be unsafe to proceed with services. If this is the case, we’ll work with you to find a solution on a case-by-case basis. In general, though, we continue to execute household moves with modified processes and procedures to protect the health and safety of everyone involved.

Finally, if you’ve been considering a move to Guam but you’re hesitating because of our current situation, we encourage you to reach out to us. We’ll walk you through every step of the process so you can make an informed decision for your family. In contrast to the busy summer months, we have plenty of capacity to assist with your move, and we’d be happy to help you make a safe and easy transition to Guam.

Guam Freight Fully Operational

Both DeWitt Guam and our sister company, Approved Freight Forwarders, are fully operational—and functioning at full capacity. If you have any concerns about freight service to Guam, don’t hesitate to contact us.

In fact, there’s been only one major change announced with regard to Guam freight. The Department of Health and Social Services recently released a guidance memo on the importation of certain medical supplies and equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE), antibiotics, and ventilators. If you plan to import any type of health equipment, make sure you familiarize yourself with these new guidelines and reach out to us with any questions.

Mandatory 14-Day Quarantine

As we mentioned earlier, all inbound passengers to Guam by air or sea are required to serve a mandatory 14-day quarantine at a government facility. This restriction applies to returning residents as well as visitors and new intended residents. Currently, the government is using a number of hotels on the island to house quarantined individuals, including the Days Inn, Wyndham Garden Hotel, Pacific Star Hotel, and Santa Fe hotel.

There’s only one exception to this requirement: If an arriving passenger can present negative results from a COVID-19 test administered within 72 hours prior to arrival on Guam, he or she will not be subject to the mandatory quarantine.

These guidelines are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information on quarantine procedures, visit the Department of Public Health and Social Services website.

Stay Current on the Situation on Guam

As the circumstances surrounding this unprecedented global pandemic continue to evolve, it’s important to keep on top of developments. We recommend the following resources:

  • Governor Lou Leon Guerrero is posting regular updates on her official Facebook page, including Live updates directly from the Governor herself.
  • The DPHSS is tracking the number of cases on the island by region. You can see the latest count on their website, as well as download helpful information for stopping the spread of the virus.

 

Finally, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Our on-island team would be happy to give you the latest local updates to help you make a safe move to Guam.

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