JIC RELEASE NO. 495 - Results: 19 of 319 Test Positive for COVID-19;DPHSS Issues Physicians Advisory On Use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine - GHS OCD

Results: 19 New Cases of COVID-19

Nineteen (19) new cases of COVID-19 were identified out of 319 tests performed on Tuesday, December 15, 2020. Two (2) cases were identified through contact tracing. Three (3) cases reported recent travel history and were identified in quarantine.

To date, there have been a total of 7,168 officially reported cases of COVID-19 with 119 deaths, 536 cases in active isolation and 6,513 not in active isolation.

TODAY’S CAR SCORE

1.6

The COVID Area Risk (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 Wednesday, December 16 and reflects results from Tuesday, December 15:

COVID-19 CASE COUNT	TOTAL	NEW CASES REPORTED TODAY	PAST 7 DAYS
COVID-19 CASES:	7,168	19	118
CONFIRMED CASES:	7,004	16	91
PROBABLE CASES:	164	3	27

COVID-19 TESTING ON GUAM	TOTAL	NEW TESTS REPORTED TODAY	7-DAY % POSITIVE
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS	96,512	319	8.3%
MOLECULAR TESTS	91,751	303	8.5%
ANTIGEN TEST	4,761	16	4.7%
SEROLOGY TESTS	321	1	31.0%

CASE BREAKDOWN
STATUS	TOTAL	CURRENT ISOLATION LOCATION	TOTAL
COVID-19 Death	119	Hospital	28
Active Isolation	536	Home	463
Not In Isolation	6,513	Isolation Facility	35
Civilian	6,839	Military	10
Military Service Member	329

COVID HOSPITAL CENSUS	Guam Memorial Hospital	Guam Regional Medical City	U.S. Naval Hospital	TOTAL
COVID ADMISSION	24	4	0	28
IN ICU	8	1	0	9
ON VENTILATOR	4	1	0	5

DPHSS Issues Physicians Advisory On Use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine

Today, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) issued a physicians advisory on the use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. DPHSS reminds healthcare providers that patients value their recommendations to improve and maintain their health. These recommendations influence their decisions to obtain healthcare.

As outbreaks for COVID-19 continue to affect our communities, it is important to utilize all tools available in combating this pandemic. Therefore, DPHSS reminds physicians of the importance of highlighting the necessity of vaccination.

On December 11, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the first emergency use authorization (EUA) of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to prevent COVID-19. We encourage you and your staff to get vaccinated to reduce the occupational risk of infection and prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 virus to your patients.

The DPHSS plans to begin vaccination on Thursday, December 17, at Okkodo High School in Dededo, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Vaccination will continue at Okkodo High School on Friday, December 18, and Saturday, December 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The initial doses received will be offered to individuals that meet the criteria under Phase 1A (healthcare personnel).

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.

DPHSS PHYSICIANS ADVISORY - Use of Pfizer-BioNTech Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccine (12-16-20)

X Flooding is a temporary overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. Flooding may happen with only a few inches of water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. There are many possible causes of floods including heavy rain, coastal storms and storm surge, waterway overflow from being blocked with debris, or overflow of levees, dams, or waste water systems. Flooding can occur slowly over many days or happen very quickly with little or no warning, called flash floods.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/floods

Wildfire

Regularly clean the roof and gutters.
Maintain an area approximately 30’ away from you home that is free of anything that will burn, such as wood piles, dried leaves, newspapers and other brush.
Connect garden hoses long enough to reach any area of the home and fill garbage cans, tubs, or other large containers with water.
Review your homeowner's insurance policy and also prepare/update a list of your home's contents.

Fire Weather

Turn on your TV/radio. You’ll get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
Know where to go. If you are ordered to evacuate, know the route to take and have plan of where you will go. Check-in with your friends and family.
Keep your car fueled, in good condition, and stocked with emergency supplies and a change of clothes.

Drought

Conserve water

Take shorter showers.

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Run the washer less frequently and only when you have a full load.
Water your lawn less frequently and do so when the temperature is cooler in the early morning or late evening.
When you run the tap to heat or cool water, keep a pitcher to store the water and use it to water plants.
Avoid washing your car.

Practice fire prevention

Don't set off fireworks when conditions are dry.
Deposit cigarette butts in the proper receptacle to avoid starting a
Pour water over camp fires and backyard fire pits to ensure they are completely out before leaving them unattended.

Follow directions from local officials. If there are restrictions on water usage, be sure to heed them.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/wildfires and https://www.ready.gov/drought

X
Typhoons/Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over the water and move toward land. Threats from typhoons/hurricanes include high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, and rip currents.

“Hurricanes” form in the Atlantic Northeast Pacific region and “Typhoons” form in the Northwest Pacific Region. These large storms are call cyclones in other parts of the world.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.

JIC RELEASE NO. 495 - Results: 19 of 319 Test Positive for COVID-19;DPHSS Issues Physicians Advisory On Use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine