Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero has lifted her mandate requiring proof of employee vaccination, or weekly testing in its stead. The mask-wearing requirement remains.
“We are confident in lifting certain restrictions to balance our approach back to a safe sense of normalcy,” she said in a special message to the people of Guam announcing her decision. “However, we must consider the vulnerability of our hospital, the high-risk designation determined by science, and local data that drives our policies.”
Prefacing her announcement by saying we are near the end of the pandemic, she declared, “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.”
Watch and read her address below:
Transcript of the governor’s special address:
Hafa Adai,
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.
The reality is that we continue to report hundreds of cases. 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.
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.
With each of these carefully considered by our healthcare experts and the Physicians Advisory Group, we are taking the safest, most strategic road to recovery.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We are starting to turn the COVID corner. Thank you for staying the course.
