By Troy Torres
(Tumon, Guam) A man who returned to Guam from the Philippines 13 days ago and placed in quarantine at the Pacific Star Hotel has tested positive for COVID-19, according to Dave Sablan, who has been in phone contact with his neighbor at the quarantine facility.
Dr. Ann Pobutsky, the state epidemiologist, just confirmed in a news conference today that a person did test positive within a quarantine facility.
"This guy is mad, of course; I'm pissed, because no one is saying anything to us," Mr. Sablan told Kandit News. "The government isn't doing any contact tracing, they're not calling each of us to see who's been in close proximity to this guy."
According to Mr. Sablan, while government officials guard the perimeter of the hotel to make sure no one leaves, they're not roaming the halls to make sure people aren't going from room to room.
"There's been hotel gatherings in some rooms," Mr. Sablan said. "And that defeats the whole purpose of the quarantine. But no one is patrolling this from happening!"
The government will be in court today seeking the legal extension of the governor's quarantine order of travelers from Philippine flights that started arriving 13 days ago. The initial 14-day quarantine ends tomorrow.
"I want to go home tomorrow, but I understand if we need to be quarantined longer because who knows if we've been exposed now?" Mr. Sablan said. "I don't want to take this home to my family if I have it now. And I'm worried about my buddy here now, because he has a heart condition and he was in close proximity to this guy who tested positive."
The government's petition to extend the quarantine period actually is being heard after the 10-day legal period already has lapsed. According to Mr. Sablan, three days ago government officials were asking the Pacific Star quarantined residents to sign voluntary waivers.
"There are legal issues here and it seems like these guys are all over the place and don't know what they're doing," Mr. Sablan said.
It is unclear whether the government's petition now will ask for an extension of the quarantine period to an additional 14 days.
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