JIC RELEASE NO. 749 - Virtual COVID-19 Town Hall Meeting on Friday; Forty-eight of 855 Test Positive for COVID-19; COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Schedule; Food Commodities Distribution Continues

Virtual COVID-19 Town Hall Meeting on Friday
The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) will be hosting a virtual COVID-19 Town Hall meeting on Friday, August 13, 2021, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. via Zoom. The virtual COVID-19 Town Hall will feature panelists DPHSS Chief Medical Officer Dr. Felix Cabrera, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Regional Epidemiologist Dr. Thane Hancock, DPHSS Chief Public Health Officer Chima Mbakwem, DPHSS Territorial Epidemiologist Dr. Ann Pobutsky, and DPHSS Laboratory Administrator Anne Marie Santos, who will answer questions about COVID-19. 

The public is invited to attend via Zoom at: tinyurl.com/dphsstownhall or via Livestream on Facebook at facebook.com/guamdphss. 

Results: 48 New Cases of COVID-19
Forty-eight (48) new cases of COVID-19 were identified out of 855 tests performed on August 11. Six (6) cases were identified through contact tracing. Two (2) cases reported recent travel history and were identified in quarantine. To date, there have been a total of 8,865 officially reported cases of COVID-19 with 143 deaths, 313 cases in active isolation – inclusive of Ten (10) hospitalized cases with one (1) hospitalized case receiving ICU-level care, and 8,409 not in active isolation. The CAR Score is 8.8.

Guam COVID-19 vaccination update: As of August 11, a total of 104,930 or 76.99% of Guam’s eligible population (residents 12 years and older) have received either both doses in the two-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna), or the single dose series (Johnson & Johnson/Janssen) of the COVID-19 vaccine. This percentage includes 7,818 fully vaccinated residents between the ages of 12 – 17, as well as Guam's fully vaccinated adult population of 97,112.

UPDATE: COVID-19 Vaccination Schedule 
COVID-19 vaccination clinics continue at the locations and times below:

• Starting Saturday, August 14, and for the next five Saturdays until September 18, a drive-through COVID-19 vaccination clinic will be held at the parking lot across from the School of Business and Public Administration of the University of Guam from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Starting Monday, August 16, COVID-19 vaccination clinics will be held at the Micronesia Mall from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., everyday, except on Sundays, through September 4, at the second floor of the mall, above center court.

The Northern Region Community Health Center in Dededo continues to offer COVID-19 vaccinations every Monday from 9 a.m to 12 p.m. and every Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m, and  at the Southern Region Community Health Center in Inalåhan, every Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

Bring a photo ID. Those due for their second dose are reminded to bring their COVID-19 immunization card. To view the complete schedule of COVID-19 vaccination clinics, visit dphss.guam.gov/vaccinategu.

COVID-19 Vaccination Schedule for GovGuam Employees & Families
DPHSS continues its vaccination clinic for Government of Guam employees and their families on Saturday, August 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the University of Guam drive-through COVID-19 vaccination POD in Mangilao. Please show your employee ID. For those needing their second dose please bring your shot card. Executive Order 2021-17 mandates that all government employees under the executive branch must be fully vaccinated no later than Friday, Sept. 24, 2021. Employees will be required to provide proof of their vaccination to their supervisor or authorizing official upon completion. 

Special Requirements for Minors to Receive the Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine:

• must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian
• must provide government-issued identification to validate minor’s age
• must provide minor’s birth certificate
• parent/legal guardian must have a government-issued ID. 
• guardians must present legal guardianship or power-of-attorney documents.

Homebound Vaccination Requests
DPHSS and the University of Guam (UOG) Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (CEDDERS) have partnered to service all homebound requests. Individuals who would like to make a request for homebound COVID-19 vaccinations should call 311, option 2, between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, to schedule an appointment. 

Free COVID-19 Testing at Tiyan Continues This Week
DPHSS continues COVID-19 community testing through Saturday, August 14 at the old carnival grounds in Tiyan, Barrigada from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Testing is free and will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis. No symptoms are needed to qualify for testing. Bring a photo ID. 

Only four (4) people per vehicle are allowed to be tested. Results available onsite. Minors must be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian and provide government-issued identification to validate age. The parent/legal guardian will also be required to sign a consent form on behalf of the minor to be tested for COVID-19. Testing for travel purposes will not be conducted at DPHSS drive-thru testing sites and must be scheduled with NRCHC by calling 671-635-7525/6. 

The community is reminded to monitor for symptoms and get tested if they are identified as close contacts to confirmed positive cases, or are experiencing any of the known COVID-19 symptoms which include, but are not limited to:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath 
• Fever
• Chills
• Muscle pain
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

This list is not exhaustive of all possible symptoms. Other less common symptoms have been reported, including gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

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. 

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. 

Click here to view COVID19 TOWNHALL FRIDAY AUGUST 13