JIC RELEASE NO. 761 - COVID-19 Hospital Census: 25; Preliminary Results: 51 of 799 Test Positive for COVID-19; COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card Replacement Request Guidance; Reminder: What To Do After Being Tested for COVID-19

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

Preliminary COVID-19 Test Results: 51 New Cases
Today, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) reports a preliminary case count of fifty-one (51) new cases of COVID-19 from 799 specimens analyzed on August 21. Additional results are pending analysis and submission from other clinics and will be reported on Monday, August 23.

To date, there have been a total of 9,394 officially reported cases of COVID-19 with 144 deaths, 663 cases in active isolation, and 8,578 not in active isolation. As of August 20, the CAR Score is 12.9.

COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card Replacement Request Guidance
To request for a replacement COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card, residents can contact the Guam Immunization Program by calling (671) 735-7143 between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. You may also send a request by sending an email to publichealth@dphss.guam.gov. When sending an email, please write in the subject line “Vaccination Card Replacement Request” and in the body of the email, include the following details: full name, date of birth, dates (if possible) and location of vaccination. 

COVID-19 Vaccination Record Replacement Cards will be available for pick up five business days from date of request. Pick up times for replacement cards are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday at the DPHSS Division of General Administration Office located at 155 Hesler Place, Hagåtña. To pick up replacement cards: 

• adults must provide a government-issued identification
• minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian
• parent/legal guardian must provide government-issued identification to validate minor’s age
• parent/legal guardian must provide minor’s birth certificate
• guardians must present legal guardianship or power-of-attorney documents

Participating COVID-19 vaccination providers are encouraged to issue replacement cards to their patients, however, providers may also direct their patients to request for replacement cards through the Guam Immunization Program. 

Guam COVID-19 Vaccination Update
As of August 21, 832 additional residents received their first dose in a two-dose series, 158 residents received their dose in the single-dose series and an additional 350 residents have become fully vaccinated. To date, a total of 107,145 (78.61%) of Guam’s eligible population (residents 12 years and older) is fully vaccinated. This percentage includes 8,600 fully vaccinated residents between the ages of 12 – 17, as well as Guam's fully vaccinated adult population of 98,545. 

Reminder: What To Do After Being Tested for COVID-19
Self-quarantine at home, stay away from others – including staying apart from those living in your household, and self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 until you receive your result. Quarantine is for people who may have been exposed to a person with COVID-19. A close contact is placed in quarantine. The use of quarantine in this instance does not apply to travelers entering into Guam by air or sea.

• If you are identified as a close contact, you must quarantine for 10 days after your last date of exposure.
• Stay home and monitor your health, watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19.
• If possible, stay away from others, especially people who are at higher risk for getting sick from COVID-19.
• Schedule and receive a viral COVID-19 test 5-7 days after your last date of exposure. If negative, quarantine may be discontinued after day.
• If you opt not to get tested, you must quarantine for 10 days after your last date of exposure.
• Self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 for the remaining 10 days after your last date of exposure.
• If you were monitored by DPHSS staff, a Public Health clearance letter may be provided when the patient is cleared.

Close contacts who do not need to quarantine:

• People who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 90 days and recovered as long as they do not develop new symptoms; or
• People who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and do not have any symptoms.
  • DPHSS will continue to monitor fully vaccinated close contacts until verification of vaccination status within 24-48 hours. 
  • Close contacts who are unable to provide COVID-19 vaccination verification will be subject to quarantine.

For additional information, visit dphss.guam.gov/covid-19-testing/ or CLICK HERE.

UPDATE: COVID-19 Testing Continues Through Saturday, August 28
Free COVID-19 testing continues seven days a week at the old carnival grounds in Tiyan, Barrigada from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. Daily testing will run through Saturday, August 28, 2021. Only polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing will be performed. Up to 400 tests will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Samples will be collected through nasopharyngeal swabs. No symptoms are needed. Bring a photo ID. 

COVID-19 test results can be expected within 24 hours. To receive results via email, send a request to covidresults@dphss.guam.gov. 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. 

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.