20 Aug 2020

Guam records sixth Covid-19 death

8:04 pm on 20 August 2020

A 70 year old man has been recorded as Guam's sixth Covid-19 death.

No caption

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The man, who had multiple morbidities, was taken to hospital in the early morning and pronounced dead on arrival.

The man was not a known Covid-19 case, but was discovered infected with the coronavirus upon being given a swabbed at the Guam Memorial Hospital.

Governor Lou Leon Guerrero offered her condolences to his family and friends.

"His sudden illness and death was not expected and I have personally reached out to his family and to offer our deepest condolences and sympathies on behalf of Lieutenant Joshua [Tenorio] and the entire island community

"This virus has already taken so much from us. If we do not remain vigilant if we falter in our resolve, the price of this virus will be higher than we can ever pay."

Lourdes Leon Guerrero

Lourdes Leon Guerrero Photo: White House official photo

The governor pleaded with people to think twice before undertaking non-essential travel or infringing current restrictions.

Although Guam's Covid cases have steadily increased since March, it's been four months since the island suffered a death from the coronavirus.

The death comes a day after a third political leader was announced as having contracted Covid-19.

Guam Senator Wil Castro is the latest leader to test positive for the coronavirus.

A candidate to be Guam's congressional delegate in Washington, Castro said he received the positive result on Tuesday, the same day he was tested.

Lou Leon Guerrero, and her lieutenant, Joshua Tenorio, has also tested positive for the coronavirus last week and been working from home since.

The US territory's Congress was also closed last week after a worker tested positive.

Guam reported 22 new cases of the coronavirus on Wednesday taking its total to 599, 231 of which are active.

Covid-19 testing underway in Guam.

Covid-19 testing underway in Guam. Photo: Governor Lou Leon Guerrero