JIC RELEASE NO. 850 - Three COVID-19-Related Fatalities Reported; Veterans Day Vaccination Clinic; DPHSS Issues COVID-19 Data Update Report; COVID-19 Test Results: 61 New Cases, 39 Hospitalized; Requirements for Minors to Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine

Three COVID-19-Related Fatalities Reported
The Joint Information Center (JIC) was notified of three (3) previously unreported COVID-19-related fatalities which occurred earlier this year in March, September, and October.

• The 256th COVID-19-related fatality occurred at the Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) on March 10, 2021. The patient was a 90-year-old male, unvaccinated with underlying health conditions. He tested positive on February 8, 2021.
• The 257th COVID-19-related fatality occurred at the Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) on September 30, 2021. The patient was a 74-year-old female, unvaccinated with underlying health conditions. She tested positive on September 18, 2021.
• The 258th COVID-19-related fatality occurred at GRMC on October 23, 2021. The patient was an 83-year-old female, unvaccinated with underlying health conditions. She tested positive on September 11, 2021.

“Jeff, Josh, and I send our prayers to their families and friends,” said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. “As we work toward getting more vaccinated in the community, including our children, we look forward to any decline in hospitalization numbers and of course, tragic deaths. While many people are able to recover with no issues, we must protect our most vulnerable by helping to stop the spread of this virus with our continued efforts.”

On Tuesday, November 9, 2021, the JIC reported one COVID-19-related fatality as unvaccinated. The JIC was later informed the patient was vaccinated. The correction follows: The 252nd COVID-19-related fatality occurred at the U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) on November 5, 2021. The patient was a 72-year-old male, vaccinated with underlying health conditions. He tested positive on November 1, 2021.

Veterans Day Vaccination Clinic
DPHSS, in partnership with the Office of the Governor of Guam, will host a vaccination clinic on Veterans Day, Thursday, November 11, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The vaccination clinic will be conducted immediately following the Veterans Day Ceremony at the Office of the Governor, Ricardo J. Bordallo Governor’s Complex, Adelup, at the same location. All veterans are invited to get vaccinated with a primary COVID-19 vaccination or a booster dose. Walk-ins are welcome. Please bring a photo ID. 

DPHSS COVID-19 Data Update Report
Today, DPHSS Office of Epidemiology and Research and the COVID-19 Surveillance Unit issued an update on COVID-19 surge trends. According to the update report, COVID-19 testing is averaging around 816 tests per day this week, representing a 13% decrease from the average last week. The report also states the test positivity rate shows a larger decrease than that in testing capacity, and the average positivity rate is 7.5% which is a 24% decrease from last week. To view the DPHSS COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Report, CLICK HERE.

39 Hospitalized for COVID-19

SPECIAL NOTE: Based on today's data, if we were to compare two (2) hypothetical populations of 100,000 people each, vaccinated versus unvaccinated, there would be 14 vaccinated people hospitalized for COVID-19 compared to 175 unvaccinated people hospitalized for COVID- 19. The risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19 is about 13 times higher for the unvaccinated as compared to the vaccinated.

*Population is based on the 2018 Statistical Yearbook. Pending population update.
 

COVID-19 Test Results: 61 New Cases of COVID-19
Today, DPHSS reported 61 new cases of COVID-19 out of 766 tests performed on November 9. 31 cases were identified through contact tracing. To date, there have been a total of 18,813 officially reported cases, 258 deaths, 2,361 cases in active isolation, and 16,194 not in active isolation. The CAR Score is 7.4.

Requirements for Minors to Receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine:

• Parent/legal guardian must provide minor’s birth certificate 
• Parent/legal guardian must have a government-issued photo identification (ID)
• Minor must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian
• Guardians must present legal guardianship or power-of-attorney documents

For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (first two doses), the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial series:

• Anyone age 65 years and older
• Anyone age 18 years and older with underlying medical conditions
• Anyone 18 years and older with an elevated risk of COVID-19 exposure and transmission due to their occupation (e.g. healthcare workers, law enforcement, fire, K-12 teachers and support staff, university faculty, daycare employees, food and agriculture workers, manufacturing workers, USPS workers, corrections workers, public transit workers, grocery store workers) or institutional settings.

For individuals who received the Johnson and Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago. 

Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Treatment Continues
DPHSS, in partnership with the Mayors’ Council of Guam and the Guam National Guard, continues to offer outpatient monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy at the Mangilao Senior Citizens Center in Mangilao. Patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 may receive mAb therapy if they meet the eligibility criteria through a referral from their private physician, a COVID-19 community test site, or a hospital. A Pre-Screening Assessment has been developed to guide individuals who may be eligible for mAb treatment. To schedule an appointment, call 671-998-4627 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 671-734-9203 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, CLICK HERE.

Guam COVID-19 Vaccination Update
As of November 9, a total of 124,359 of Guam’s eligible population (residents 12 years and older) is fully vaccinated. This includes 12,052 fully vaccinated residents between the ages of 12 – 17, and 112,307 fully vaccinated adults. 271 residents 5 – 11 years old received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech two dose series. 12,306 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, 5,481 doses of the Moderna and 152 doses of the Johnson and Johnson/Janssen vaccine have been administered as boosters to eligible residents.