JIC RELEASE NO. 556 - DPHSS Issues Guidance Memo 2021-04;Homebound COVID-19 Vaccination Schedule; DPHSS Places February Order for 17,000 Doses of Vaccines; Food Commodities Distribution Through Village Mayors Continues;One GDOE Employee Tests Positive for

DPHSS Issues Guidance Memo 2021-04

The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) issued Guidance Memo 2021-04, relative to restrictions and allowances for public and private operations pursuant to Executive Order No. 2021-03, during Pandemic Condition of Readiness 2 (PCOR 2).

• EFFECTIVE 8 A.M., FEBRUARY 1, 2021: congregation is permitted and shall be limited to no more than twenty-five (25) persons; and such that
  • Running, walking, biking, and other recreation and non-contact exercise is authorized on public roadways, beaches, and parks, provided there are no more than twenty-five (25) persons per group.
  • Recreational boating by single household unit, and boat charters, where 6 feet distancing can be maintained by everyone on board, is authorized. Boat charters may not permit congregations that exceed twenty-five (25) persons.
  • The use of hotel ballrooms shall be restricted to a single public or private reservation to celebrate functions (i.e., anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, graduations) where the total number of guests are limited to no more than  twenty-five (25) individuals.
  • Public and private swimming pools allow no more than twenty-five (25) individuals per group at poolside and must remain 6 feet distance if not from the same household.
• EFFECTIVE 8 A.M., FEBRUARY 1, 2021: Government of Guam parks and beaches shall be open to the public and congregations shall be limited to no more than twenty-five (25) persons.

Businesses and service not authorized for on-site operations are as follows:

•  Bars and taverns;
• Contact sporting events of all types and non-contact sports competition or organized games;
• Senior Centers; and
• Other businesses and services identified by the DPHSS.

Homebound COVID-19 Vaccination Schedule
DPHSS, in partnership with the Mayors’ Council of Guam, and Guam Department of Education, continues efforts to vaccinate homebound patients throughout the island. Homebound patients have been pre-registered to receive the vaccine through their respective village mayors and have met the eligibility criteria as a homebound patient. 

Homebound vaccinations for the week of February 1 to 5 are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the following villages and locations: 

DPHSS Places February Order for 17,000 Doses of Vaccines
On Saturday, January 30, 2021, DPHSS placed orders for both the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccines. DPHSS’ Immunization Program ordered 9,200 doses of the Moderna vaccine and 7,800 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine totaling 17,000 doses for the month of February. Both vaccines are anticipated to arrive within three to five business days. 

DPHSS Offers COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Appointments Online through Eventbrite
The Department of Public Health and Social Services, 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 Health, the Serve Guam Commission which oversees the AmeriCorps Guam Program and the Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD), continues its COVID-19 vaccination clinics.

DPHSS is accepting appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations at Okkodo High School (OHS) in Dededo for individuals who fall in any of the Phase 1a, 1b, or 1c categories. 

A total of 45 appointment slots and 10 walk-ins will be available hourly. Although walk-ins will be accepted, priority will be given to scheduled appointments. Patients must bring a digital or hard copy appointment confirmation and a photo ID. 

Residents are advised to schedule an appointment online via Eventbrite through the below link:

COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Resumes February 2-6 at UOG Fieldhouse 
The Guam National Guard (GUNG), in partnership with DPHSS and UOG, resumes its COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Tuesday, February 2 through Saturday, February 6 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the UOG Fieldhouse. These clinics are open to the public for individuals 60 years and older, healthcare workers, school-based staff and daycare workers, and essential government agencies. 

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will only be available for those due for their second dose. The Moderna vaccine will be available for both first and second doses. Residents are advised to schedule an appointment online via Eventbrite. Click here to schedule. A total of 65 appointments and up to 15 walk-ins will be accepted hourly.

Please show your appointment ticket on your electronic device or print-out at check-in and bring a photo ID. Those due for their second dose are reminded to bring their COVID-19 immunization card. This ensures quicker processing and proper documentation.

Pre-screening Eligibility for COVID-19 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.

One GDOE Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19
On Monday, February 1, the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) confirmed that one GDOE employee tested positive for COVID-19. The individual is an employee at Captain H.B. Price Elementary School.

The GDOE is working closely with DPHSS to conduct contact tracing and any close contact of the confirmed case will be notified directly. Areas of the offices will be cleaned and disinfected as needed.

Food Commodities Distribution Through Village Mayors Continues
The Guam Department of Education (GDOE), State Agency for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Nutrition Service (FNS) continues the distribution of food commodities through each mayor at the village level.  Recipients will receive TEFAP food commodities per household that may include instant milk, canned pears or peaches, canned mixed fruits, tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, canned beef, canned chicken, frozen shrimp, kidney beans, pistachios, oat (circle and crispy hexagon) cereal, bottled orange juice or grapefruit juice, and banana chips. Food commodity distribution in each village will be available to village constituents only and residents should call their respective mayor’s office for more information. Participants are reminded to wear a mask, maintain physical distancing, and follow all traffic directions and signage.

Village Mayor’s distribution schedule for this week is as follows:

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 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 DPHSS Guidance Memorandum 2021-04