JIC RELEASE NO. 482 - Results: 7 New Cases of COVID-19; Ultra-Low Temperature Freezer Storage for COVID-19 Vaccines on Guam

Special Note: As of December 7, 2020, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) surveillance team now reports COVID-19 testing using the number of specimens tested. Under the previous testing definition, COVID-19 test reporting did not include follow-up testing for known COVID-19 cases. Known cases often receive follow-up testing for COVID-19, including both diagnostic and serology testing. To clarify reporting and more accurately report all testing conducted on Guam, the surveillance team will now report “COVID-19 Tests” as the number of specimens tested by type of test. Test positivity will be calculated using the number of specimens. COVID-19 cases under the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) case definition continue to represent the number of people who have tested positive by diagnostic testing for COVID-19. 

Results: 7 New Cases of COVID-19 

Seven (7) new cases of COVID-19 were identified out of 177 tests performed on Monday, December 7, 2020. 

To date, there have been a total of 7,026 officially reported cases of COVID-19 with 113 deaths, 665 cases in active isolation and 6,248 not in active isolation.

As of December 8, 2020, the COVID Area Risk (CAR) Score is 2.1. Due to today’s holiday, the CAR Score will be recalculated once reports from all participating labs are up to date. The CAR Score accounts for the incidence of new cases, how well current testing identifies these cases, and the rate of spread. Given the recent surges, Guam’s first step has been to achieve a sustained CAR Score of 5.0 and below. The ideal long-term goal is to sustain a CAR Score of 2.5 or less, which has been shown to correlate with very low to zero COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths. To learn more about the CAR Score, visit Strive for Five.

The following tables provide COVID-19 test results reported to the Joint Information Center on Tuesday, December 8 and reflects results from Monday, December 7:

Ultra-Low Temperature Freezer Storage for COVID-19 Vaccines on Guam 
Guam currently has three ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers on island capable of storing COVID-19 vaccines. The first allocation of vaccines is anticipated to arrive mid to late December.

The three ULT freezers have been on island and were previously acquired for other purposes. Through a collaborative federal partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), local and federal health officials are monitoring daily temperature logging of the three ULT freezers to ensure they function properly. Two of the three ULT freezers will be operational while the third will serve as a redundancy. DPHSS has ensured all three ULT freezers are positioned in locations equipped with backup generators. The vaccination storage sites will be manned with security personnel 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

With guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) has placed its first order of 3,900 doses of Pfizer vaccines or “Vaccine A” on December 4, with another order of 3,900 doses scheduled to be placed on December 18. DPHSS has also been approved by the CDC to place a third order of 3,900 doses of Vaccine A, however the department has not been given a firm date of when it can place its third order. 

*The first shipment of 3,900 vaccines will be allocated as a first dose while the second shipment of 3,900 will be allocated as a second dose 21 days later. 

**The third shipment of 3,900 doses will then be divided into two doses for 1,950 individuals spaced 21 days apart.  

With all three shipments combined, the 11,700 doses will fully immunize 5,850 people. Details about the Vaccine and Antiviral Prioritization Policy Committee (VAPPC), which will be responsible for advising DPHSS on identifying critical population groups who will receive the first round of vaccines and other COVID-19 vaccine-related matters, will be announced soon. For more information on DPHSS COVID-19 vaccine preparation, please visit https://youtu.be/n1DpUGVmbt4

GBHWC Crisis Hotline
The Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center (GBHWC) has a Crisis Hotline that is available 24/7 at (671) 647-8833/4. For those feeling anxious, stressed, overwhelmed or are needing to talk to someone, GBHWC has experienced providers available and ready to assist the community with any heightened stress and anxiety experienced as a result of COVID-19.

For the latest information on COVID-19, visit dphss.guam.gov or guamrecovery.com. For inquiries on COVID-19, contact 311 through a local number, or call the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10.