By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero today lifted the limit on social gatherings indoor effective immediately and eliminated the vaccine mandate as well as weekly testing requirement for executuve branch employees.
"We are starting to turn the Covid corner," the govenor said in a video message following the issuance of her latest directive as part of the gradual easing of Covid-19 restrictions.
However, while some U.S. jurisdictions have tossed their face coverings, Guam's mask mandate remains in place.
"We are confident in lifting certain restrictions to balance our approach back to a safe sense of normalcy. However, we must consider the vulnerability of our hospital, the high-risk designation determined by science, and local data that drives our policies," the governor said.
The rescinding of indoor crowd limit was the latest in a series of executive actions easing Covid-19 related restrictions. The governor earlier raised the indoor crowd limit to 100 and eliminated the requirement for proof of vaccination.
"Effective immediately, there no longer will be a limit on outdoor social gathering numbers, and other than healthcare workers, our government will no longer mandate proof of employee vaccination and weekly testing requirements," the governor said.
Public health officials on Thursday said Guam's infection rate has been showing a downward trend but the island remains in the Centers for Disease Contol and Prevention's "high-risk" category.
"The reality is that we continue to report hundreds of cases," the governor said. "Compared to prior surges, the difference today is our Covid admissions are manageable, and vaccines, boosters,and treatments are available. Although, like the virus, our safety measures can’t go away overnight."
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"As we continue a gradual lifting of restrictions, our mission remains the same. Like each of you, we want to lift all restrictions and return to our way of life.
we want to lift all restrictions and return to our way of life," the governor said.
"As your governor, I encourage you to take comfort in knowing we are at the end stage of the pandemic. Now, we take another step forward," she added,
Just the same, Leon Guerrero advised residents not to let their guard down.
"We should keep in mind that exiting this pandemic will be a lot like trying to exit a family party. We have to make our rounds and make sure everyone is okay before we leave," she said.
"This might take some time, but we will exit this unprecedented event knowing we kept our families top of mind, especially our manåmko’ and loved ones with chronic illnesses."
If we sustain our vigilance, there will come an appropriate time when there are no limits on indoor social gatherings, and face masks and other measures are no longer mandatory.
To achieve this, I urge you to continue Wearing your mask, Washing your hands, and Watching your distance. Get vaccinated and boosted.
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