JIC RELEASE NO. 720 - 141st COVID-19-Related Fatality Reported; Twelve COVID-19 Cases with Variants of Concern Identified on Guam - GHS OCD

141st COVID-19-Related Fatality Reported
The Joint Information Center (JIC) was notified that Guam’s 141st COVID-19-related fatality was pronounced dead on arrival at the Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 8, 2021. The patient was a 72-year-old female, unvaccinated, with underlying health conditions. She tested positive on June 26, 2021.

“Today, our grief continues. As we work towards rebuilding Guam, we are reminded that the COVID-19 virus remains a threat to our community, most especially those who have yet to get vaccinated. To those who loved her, Jeff, Josh, and I offer our deepest condolences and sympathies,” said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. “While we are so close to achieving Operation Liberate Guam, our local initiative to vaccinate 80% of our adult population, the work cannot stop there. We will continue our aggressive campaign until everyone eligible receives the protection the vaccine provides.”

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.

Twelve COVID-19 Cases with Variants of Concern Identified on Guam
On July 8, DPHSS received twelve (12) new results from virus samples collected on Guam, which have undergone genome sequencing by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Virus samples were collected between May 13 – 28.

DPHSS received the sixth set of results from the CDC on July 8. Twelve (12) of nineteen (19) samples received were identified with the B.1.1.7 or the Alpha Variant of Concern (VOC).

Of the twelve (12) cases identified with VOCs, none reported any known travel history. Four cases did not meet the age eligibility for COVID-19 vaccination, seven cases had never been vaccinated, while one reported receiving the first dose of a two-dose series of the COVID-19 vaccine. All twelve (12) cases recovered from infection between May 24 and June 8.

To date, 158 SARS-CoV-2 virus samples have been submitted to the CDC for genome sequencing and identified a total of sixty-three (63) COVID-19 cases infected with VOCs. DPHSS previously reported VOCs from results from the CDC and identified the following:

thirty-eight (38) cases identified with the B.1.1.7 Alpha variant
eight (8) cases identified with the B.1.429 Epsilon variant
three (3) cases identified with the B.1.351 Beta variant
one (1) case identified with the B.1.617.2 Delta variant
one (1) case identified with the P.1 Gamma variant

Current results do not provide any evidence of the other Variants of Concern on Guam (B.1.427--a California Variant of Concern). DPHSS continues to send samples to the CDC for genome sequencing.

The community is reminded to remain vigilant:

Wear your mask. Wash your hands. Watch your distance.
Get vaccinated. Visit dphss.guam.gov/vaccinategu for a complete vaccination schedule.
Stay home if you are sick, keep away from others who are sick.
Keep a safe distance of at least 6 feet from others who are not in your household.
Practice social distancing around elderly family members.

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.

X Flooding is a temporary overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. Flooding may happen with only a few inches of water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. There are many possible causes of floods including heavy rain, coastal storms and storm surge, waterway overflow from being blocked with debris, or overflow of levees, dams, or waste water systems. Flooding can occur slowly over many days or happen very quickly with little or no warning, called flash floods.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/floods

Wildfire

Regularly clean the roof and gutters.
Maintain an area approximately 30’ away from you home that is free of anything that will burn, such as wood piles, dried leaves, newspapers and other brush.
Connect garden hoses long enough to reach any area of the home and fill garbage cans, tubs, or other large containers with water.
Review your homeowner's insurance policy and also prepare/update a list of your home's contents.

Fire Weather

Turn on your TV/radio. You’ll get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
Know where to go. If you are ordered to evacuate, know the route to take and have plan of where you will go. Check-in with your friends and family.
Keep your car fueled, in good condition, and stocked with emergency supplies and a change of clothes.

Drought

Conserve water

Take shorter showers.

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Run the washer less frequently and only when you have a full load.
Water your lawn less frequently and do so when the temperature is cooler in the early morning or late evening.
When you run the tap to heat or cool water, keep a pitcher to store the water and use it to water plants.
Avoid washing your car.

Practice fire prevention

Don't set off fireworks when conditions are dry.
Deposit cigarette butts in the proper receptacle to avoid starting a
Pour water over camp fires and backyard fire pits to ensure they are completely out before leaving them unattended.

Follow directions from local officials. If there are restrictions on water usage, be sure to heed them.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/wildfires and https://www.ready.gov/drought

X
Typhoons/Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over the water and move toward land. Threats from typhoons/hurricanes include high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, and rip currents.

“Hurricanes” form in the Atlantic Northeast Pacific region and “Typhoons” form in the Northwest Pacific Region. These large storms are call cyclones in other parts of the world.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.

JIC RELEASE NO. 720 - 141st COVID-19-Related Fatality Reported; Twelve COVID-19 Cases with Variants of Concern Identified on Guam