JIC RELEASE NO. 541 - Results: 30 of 1,121 Test Positive for COVID-19;COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Schedule for January 20-23;Second Dose Reminder Phone Calls; Division of Public Welfare Operations

Results: 30 New Cases of COVID-19
Thirty (30) new cases of COVID-19 were identified out of 1,121 tests performed by the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) on Monday, January 18, and tests from additional labs from Friday, January 15 to Monday, January 18. Three (3) cases were identified through contact tracing. Five (5) cases reported recent travel history and were identified in quarantine. 

To date, there have been a total of 7,515 officially reported cases of COVID-19 with 128 deaths, 136 cases in active isolation and 7,251 not in active isolation.

1The COVID Area Risk (CAR) Score accounts for the incidence of new cases, how well current testing identifies these cases, and the rate of spread. 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. 

The following tables provide COVID-19 test results reported to the Joint Information Center on Tuesday, January 19 and reflects results from additional labs from Friday, January 15 to Monday, January 18:

The following provides COVID-19 vaccinations reported to the Joint Information Center on Tuesday, January 19 for vaccinations administered from December 17 to January 18:

*Administering second doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccinations began on January 4, 2021.

**Administering first doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccinations began on January 8, 2021.

Second Dose Vaccination Clinic on January 20 – 21 at UOG Fieldhouse
DPHSS, in partnership with the Office of the Governor, Guam Department of Education (GDOE), Mayors’ Council of Guam (MCOG), Department of Public Works (DPW), Guam Department of Labor (GDOL), Guam Fire Department (GFD), Guam Police Department (GPD), Guam National Guard (GUNG), University of Guam (UOG) School of Nursing and Health Sciences, and the Serve Guam Commission which oversees the AmeriCorps Guam Program, will continue its COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Wednesday, January 20 and Thursday, January 21, starting at 8:30 a.m. at the UOG Fieldhouse in Mangilao. Patients should proceed through the University Drive entrance to get to the UOG Fieldhouse. Please click here for the map.

These vaccination clinics are for Phase 1b (individuals 75 years and older) and others who are due for their second dose and received their first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on December 28 to 31, 2020. 

Those due for their second dose are reminded to bring their immunization card to the vaccination clinic so it may be properly documented. Please bring a photo ID.

DPHSS will issue tickets for vaccinations on a first-come, first-served basis to patients in their vehicles only. Patient Parking Instructions will be printed on the back of each ticket. This process occurs at all DPHSS vaccination clinics.

Second Dose Reminder Phone Calls 
Patients who received their first COVID-19 vaccination and are due for their second dose will be contacted by authorized DPHSS representatives by phone. The purpose of this call is to remind patients about their upcoming second dose and to inform them about the next available vaccination clinic. 

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) mandates DPHSS authorized representatives to speak directly to the patient, or the authorized representative must obtain permission from the patient to speak with the patient’s caregiver on their behalf to communicate any information related to medical treatment or records, as this information is protected by federal law. 

Patients and caregivers are urged to call 311 (option 1) for questions or concerns related to the COVID-19 vaccine or click here for more information.

First Dose Vaccination Clinic on January 23 at Okkodo High School
The DPHSS COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic will resume at Okkodo High School in Dededo on Saturday, January 23, starting at 8:30 a.m. for Phase 1c (individuals 60 years and older) to receive Pfizer-BioNTech Dose One.

First Dose Vaccination Clinic on Jan. 20-23 at Southern Region Community Health Center
The DPHSS COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic resumes at the Southern Region Community Health Center (SRCHC) in Inarajan on Wednesday, January 20 through Saturday, January 23, starting at 8:30 a.m. for Phase 1c (individuals 60 years and older) to receive Pfizer-BioNTech Dose One.

DPHSS will issue tickets for vaccinations to the first 250 individuals at SRCHC, per day, under Phase 1c. First-come, first-served. Please bring a photo ID.

Pre-screening Eligibility Vaccinations
To take the COVID-19 vaccine, you must meet the following pre-screening eligibility criteria*:

• Must not be currently infected with COVID-19, or previously exposed within the last 14 days

• Must not have received any other vaccine, such as the flu shot, in the last 14 days

*Please note: If this is your first time receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, please make sure you have never taken other COVID-19 vaccine products. Please visit dphss.guam.gov to view the pre-screening eligibility.

V-Safe Vaccine Symptom Monitoring 

Individuals who have received the COVID-19 vaccine are encouraged to register for the tool called v-safe, offered by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). V-safe is a smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Through v-safe, you can quickly tell CDC if you have any side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Depending on your answers, someone from CDC may call to check on you. V-safe will remind you to get your second COVID-19 vaccine dose if you need one. Sign up for v-safe with your smartphone’s browser athttps://vsafe.cdc.gov.

Division of Public Welfare Operations

In line with PCOR2, DPHSS’ Division of Public Welfare announces the following: 

Bureau of Healthcare Financing Administration (BHCFA): All services are available Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Face-to-face service for prior authorization request is still closed to the public. Individuals in need of face-to-face assistance can schedule an appointment. 

• Prior Authorization - For both on-island and off-island requests, clients may send a facsimile transmittal to 735-7476 or email lillian.manuel@dphss.guam.gov or lourdes.fernandez@dphss.guam.gov to request for On-Island Prior Authorization Request 
  • gabrielle.bautista@dphss.guam.gov to request for Off-Island Prior Authorization Request
  • To request a face-to-face appointment, clients may call 735-7437/7474, or email: lillian.manuel@dphss.guam.gov or lourdes.fernandez@dphss.guam.gov for assistance.
• Medicare Buy-In Program operates by appointment only. To schedule, clients may call 735-7474, send a facsimile transmittal to 735-7476 or email clarasue.santos@dphss.guam.gov. 
  • Clients submitting Provider Claims can place claims in the drop box located at the 3rd Floor, Unit 3C, RanCare Building in Tamuning
  • For all other inquiries regarding Medicaid or MIP program, clients are urged to call Castle Mall location at 735-7237/742 or the Ran-Care Commercial Center location at 300-7335/7330

Bureau of Economic Security (BES): BES will continue telephone interviews. Clients must drop off their applications and other documents in the drop box outside of Room B9, located on the 2nd floor, of the west wing at the Ran-Care Commercial Center in Tamuning, or in the drop box outside of the Northern Regional Community Health Center in Dededo. The Southern Region Community Health Center in Inarajan is temporarily closed. Both centers operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (open during lunchtime):

Clients may also email applications and documents to publicassistance@dphss.guam.gov.

Bureau of Management Support located at Castle Mall in Mangilao is available by appointment only. Clients may call 735-7344/7256, send a facsimile transmittal to 735-7165, or email publicassistance@dphss.guam.gov or childcare@dphss.guam.gov (for Child Care Development Fund program related matters).

Bureau of Social Services Administration (BOSSA), located at 194 Hernan Cortez Avenue, Hagåtña, is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All client interviews will be by appointment only. Family visitations will be coordinated by Child Protective Services (CPS) in a venue outside the BOSSA office in a ventilated area. Please call 475-2653/2672, or fax 477-0500 to report child abuse or neglect, schedule an appointment, or send inquiries. For after hours emergencies, please contact 911.

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. 

Click Here to View JAN20-23 VACCINES

Click Here to View VACCINE FAQS

Click Here to View Prescreening Eligibility