JIC RELEASE NO. 788 - 171st COVID-19-related Fatality Reported; COVID-19 Hospital Census: 73; COVID-19 Test Results: 202 New Cases; Clarification on FEMA Team Deployment; Additional Updates

171st COVID-19-Related Fatality Reported
The Joint Information Center (JIC) was notified that Guam’s 171st COVID-19-related fatality occurred at the Guam Regional Medical City at approximately 12:46 p.m. today. The patient was a 65-year-old female, unvaccinated, with multiple underlying health conditions.

“Our island continues to feel the effects of the pandemic, and another family’s world has been upended by this disease,” said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. “Josh, Jeff and I send our love and our deepest sympathies to her loved ones. As we join the island in mourning, we remind everyone tonight that we have the tools, the capability and the fortitude to control the upheaval before us, and bring about a safer future.”  

GBHWC Crisis Hotline
The Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center (GBHWC) has a Crisis Hotline available 24/7 at (671) 647-8833/4. For those feeling anxious, stressed, overwhelmed, or need 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.

Watch for Emergency Warning Signs for COVID-19
In accordance with the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) guidance, 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.

DON’T WAIT UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE. Look for emergency warning signs for COVID-19 and seek emergency medical care immediately or call 911 if you are experiencing any of the following warning signs of COVID-19:

• Trouble breathing

• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest

• New confusion

• Inability to wake or stay awake

• Bluish lips or face

73 Hospitalized for COVID-19 – 42 Unvaccinated

The Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH), Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC), and U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) Guam report the following COVID-19 hospital census, as of 6 p.m.:

COVID-19 Test Results: 202 New Cases of COVID-19
Today, DPHSS reported two hundred two (202) new cases of COVID-19 out of 1,567 tests performed on September 14. Thirty (30) cases were identified through contact tracing. To date, there have been a total of 12,974 officially reported cases of COVID-19 with 171 deaths, 2,161 cases in active isolation, and 10,642 not in active isolation. The CAR Score is 38.2.

Free COVID-19 Testing Schedule:

For quicker service, visit dphss.guam.gov/covid-19-testing to download, print, and complete a COVID-19 Testing Patient Assessment Form before arriving at the testing site. Only four (4) people per vehicle are allowed to be tested. 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. Testing for travel purposes will not be conducted at DPHSS drive-thru testing sites and must be scheduled with the Northern Region Community Health Center (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. 

Individuals waiting for COVID-19 test results must quarantine at home until cleared by DPHSS. Individuals whose test results are positive and who are at high risk for serious illness will be given information on outpatient monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19.

UPDATED: COVID-19 Vaccination Schedule 

Isolation Clearance Letters Available for Pick Up at DPHSS Hagåtña Office
Isolation clearance letters are available for pick up for those who were in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19. Isolation is a period of 10 days from the date of onset of symptoms for symptomatic patients, or 10 days from the date of specimen collection for asymptomatic patients. Isolation may be discontinued at least 10 days since symptoms first appeared, or at least 24 hours with no fever without using fever-reducing medication and other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving. For asymptomatic patients, isolation may be discontinued 10 days from the date of positive specimen collection. 

These clearance letters may be provided to your employer or school. Clearance letters for those who tested positive for COVID-19 between August 9 to September 5 will be available at the DPHSS main office located at 155 Hesler Place in Hagåtña today through Thursday, September 16 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For directions to the DPHSS main office, visit https://goo.gl/maps/BXUTfi4Z2fqeD7UT8. 

Clarification on FEMA Team Deployment
On Tuesday, the Joint Information Center reported that the arrival of three five-member teams, who will be supporting Guam’s ongoing COVID-19 response, was temporarily delayed due to scheduling reasons. Upon further communication with federal counterparts, it was clarified that the contract employees, part of the three-five member monoclonal and vaccination teams, are on schedule to arrive September 24 to support DPHSS’ mission.

Scheduling of the staff is tied directly to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) awarding of a contract and finalizing task orders for any requests, which require review, approval and standards of performance needing to be identified.

Information on monoclonal antibody therapy treatment, which will be augmented by the additional contract employees upon their arrival, will be announced at a later date.

Guam COVID-19 Vaccination Update
As of September 14, 239 additional residents received their first dose in a two-dose series, 38 residents received their dose in the single-dose series, and an additional 579 residents have become fully vaccinated. To date, a total of 114,015 (83.65%) of Guam’s eligible population (residents 12 years and older) is fully vaccinated. This percentage includes 9,448 fully vaccinated residents between the ages of 12 – 17, as well as Guam's fully vaccinated adult population of 104,567.

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.