JIC RELEAES NO. 960 - 307th COVID-19-related Fatality Reported; Cumulative COVID-19 Test Results: 295 New Cases, 70 Hospitalized; 61 Cases with Variants of Concern Identified; Additional COVID-19 Updates

307th COVID-19-related Fatality Reported

Today, the Joint Information Center was notified that Guam’s 307th COVID-19-related fatality was pronounced dead on arrival at the U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) Guam on February 11, 2022. The patient was a 78-year-old male, vaccinated, with underlying health conditions who tested positive on February 11. 

“While our individual efforts have not gone unnoticed, we remain in the firm grip of this pandemic. To his family and those who loved him, Jeff, Josh, and I extend our deepest sympathies and condolences,” said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. “It is not enough to only wash our hands, watch our distance, and wear our mask but we must also continue vaccinations and booster shots. For those with sick and vulnerable family members, there are a variety of treatments available to help those with the virus get better faster. We can and we will resurface from these hard times but only with the collective efforts of our entire community.”

DON’T WAIT UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE.

Look for emergency warning signs for COVID-19. Call 911 if you have trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, or bluish lips or face. Individuals who are sick are advised to:

• Stay home, except to seek medical care. Call ahead before visiting the clinic/doctor.

• Monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 including fever, cough, and shortness of breath, fatigue, body aches, headaches, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, nausea and/or diarrhea.

• Get tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19. While waiting for test results, you should stay away from others, including staying apart from those living in your household.

Older Adults, People with Serious Chronic Medical Conditions are Most at Risk for Serious Complications and Death Due to SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19

Serious chronic medical conditions include:

• Heart disease

• Diabetes

• Lung disease

• Obesity

• Immunocompromised conditions (e.g. cancer, lupus)

• Chronic renal disease

• Neurologic or neurodevelopmental condition

• Current or former smoking

• Chronic liver disease

70 Hospitalized for COVID-19

SPECIAL NOTE: Based on today's data, if we were to compare two (2) hypothetical populations of 100,000 people each, vaccinated versus unvaccinated, there would be 28 vaccinated people hospitalized for COVID-19 compared to 413 unvaccinated people hospitalized for COVID-19. The risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19 is about 15 times higher for the unvaccinated as compared to the vaccinated. *Estimated population is based on DPHSS Immunization Program analysis of 2020 Census data. Updates are expected pending further Census 2020 data breakdown.

Cumulative COVID-19 Test Results: 295 New Cases Reported February 12 – 14

From February 12–14, 2022, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) reported 295 new cases of COVID-19. 82 of these cases were reported through the Department of Defense. The 295 new cases does not include cases previously reported in JIC Release No. 958 and 959. The breakdown of the cumulative results is below:
 

• February 14: 63 of 293 test positive for COVID-19

• February 13: 410 of 1,262 test positive for COVID-19 (345 cases previously reported). 

• February 12: 512 of 1,320 test positive for COVID-19 (345 cases previously reported).

To date, there have been a total of 40,280 officially reported cases, 307 deaths, 5,173 cases in active isolation, and 34,800 not in active isolation.

61 Cases with Variants of Concern Identified

DPHSS received sixty-one (61) new results from virus samples on Monday collected on Guam between January 2 to January 10, 2022, which have undergone genome sequencing by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). DPHSS received the fourteenth set of results from the CDC. Of the 61 samples, 60 were identified as the Omicron Variant of Concern (VOC), while one (1) was identified as the Delta VOC. The breakdown is as follows:

Omicron 

• Thirty-nine (39) BA.1

• Twenty-one (21) BA.1.1

 Delta 

•     One (1) AY.25

To date, 541 SARS-CoV-2 virus samples have been submitted to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Hawaii DOH State Lab Division for genome sequencing and identified a total of three hundred ninety-one (391) COVID-19 cases with variants. DPHSS previously reported variants from results from the CDC and the Hawaii DOH State Lab and identified the following:

• eighty-nine (89) cases identified with the B.1.1.7 Alpha variant 

• four (4) cases identified with the B.1.351 Beta variant

• two hundred fifty-six (256) cases identified with the Delta variant and its

sublineages 

• fourteen (14) cases identified with the B.1.429 Epsilon variant 

• one (1) case identified with the P.1 Gamma variant

• twenty-seven (27) cases identified with the Omicron variant and its sublineages

Food Commodities Distribution Continues

GDOE, State Agency for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) under the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Nutrition Service distribution will be available to village constituents only on a first-come, first-served basis. Distribution is limited to three households per vehicle at the sites. Face masks must be worn; bring a photo ID.

Guam COVID-19 Vaccination Update

As of February 13, 2022, a total of 134,096 of Guam’s eligible population (residents 5 years and older) is fully vaccinated. This total includes 13,204 residents 12 – 17 years old. 7,138 residents 5 – 11 years old received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech two dose series. 4,959 residents 5 – 11 years old have completed their two-dose series. An additional 294 residents received their booster shots and a total of 53,606 booster shots have been administered to eligible residents since September 29, 2021.