JIC RELEASE NO. 667 - Six COVID-19 Cases with Variants of Concern Identified on Guam;Community Reminded to Practice Caution - GHS OCD

Today, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) received an additional set of results from virus samples collected on Guam which have undergone genome sequencing by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Virus samples were collected between March 2021 and April 2021. To date, a total of 86 SARS-CoV-2 virus samples have been submitted to the CDC for genome sequencing.

DPHSS received the third set of results from the CDC on May 12. Of the seven (7) results, six (6) were Variants of Concern: four (4) were identified as B.1.1.7 or the U.K. variant, one (1) was identified as the B.1.429 or California variant, and one (1) was identified as the B.1.351 or the South African variant. The B.1.351, or the South African variant, is considered a more highly transmissible variant of SARS-CoV-2 and significantly decreases susceptibility to certain combination monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19.

Of the six samples confirmed as Variants of Concern, five (5) were identified in the government of Guam quarantine facility (QFAC), and one (1) had no known travel history. In accordance with DPHSS protocol, the five (5) travelers were isolated in the government isolation facility, and all close contacts to these travelers were quarantined at the QFAC for 14 days.

DPHSS received the first set of results on March 19 from the CDC, which confirmed seven (7) of 26 samples identified the B.1.429 California Variant. On May 3, the second set of results confirmed three (3) of four (4) samples identified the B.1.1.7 Variant from the United Kingdom. This brings a total of 16 confirmed variants from samples collected on Guam that have been identified by the CDC. Upon additional case assessment, it has been verified that none of the patients who tested positive with the variants were fully immunized with the COVID-19 vaccine.

Current results do not provide any evidence of the other Variants of Concern on Guam (P.1-- Brazil/Japan, B.1.427--a California Variant of Concern). DPHSS continues to send samples to the CDC for genome sequencing.

The community is reminded to remain vigilant:

Wear your mask. Wash your hands. Watch your distance.
Get vaccinated. Stay tuned to local media and the latest JIC releases for vaccine availability.
Stay home if you are sick, keep away from others who are sick.
Keep a safe distance of at least 6 feet from others who are not in your household.
Practice social distancing around elderly family members.

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.

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. 667 - Six COVID-19 Cases with Variants of Concern Identified on Guam;Community Reminded to Practice Caution