JIC RELEASE NO. 805 - 196th COVID-19-related Fatality Reported; COVID-19 Booster Shots Now Available; COVID-19 Updates: 66 Hospitalized; 192 of 1,386 Test Positive

196th COVID-19-related Fatality Reported
The Joint Information Center was notified that Guam’s 196th COVID-19-related fatality was pronounced dead on arrival at the Guam Memorial Hospital on September 28, 2021. The patient was a 59-year-old male, unvaccinated, with underlying health conditions who was a known positive case.  

“Each person that we lose to COVID-19 is one too many, and our hearts go out to their families and friends during their time of grieving,” said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. “In this fight, we must use all the tools at our disposal, including masks, social distancing, vaccination, and even COVID-19 treatment.” 

DON’T WAIT UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE. Look for emergency warning signs for COVID-19. Seek emergency medical care immediately or call 911 if you have trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, or bluish lips or face.

Individuals who are sick are advised to: 

• Stay home, except to seek medical care. Call ahead before visiting the clinic/doctor.
• Monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 including fever, cough, and shortness of breath, fatigue, body aches, headaches, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, nausea and/or diarrhea.

Get tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19. While waiting for test results, you should stay away from others, including staying apart from those living in your household.

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Booster Shots Now Available 
Booster Shots are now available at the University of Guam Calvo Field House for people who had a normal immune response to the first two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, but because of time, antibody levels are beginning to wane. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is the only FDA authorized vaccine to administer as a booster. The following groups of people are eligible for a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech if they completed the Pfizer-BioNTech series (first two doses) and it has been 6 months or more since the second dose:

• Anyone age 65+
• Anyone age 18 - 64 with underlying medical conditions
• Anyone 18 - 64 with an elevated risk of COVID-19 exposure and transmission due to their occupation (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)

If eligible, please make your Booster Shot appointment at tinyurl.com/vaxguam. Walk-ins are accepted but should be prepared for longer wait times. Please see below for clinic hours:

66 Hospitalized for COVID-19 – 35 Unvaccinated

COVID-19 Test Results: 192 New Cases of COVID-19 
Today, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) reported 192 new cases of COVID-19 out of 1,386 tests performed on September 28. 76 cases were identified through contact tracing. To date, there have been a total of 14,897 officially reported cases, 196 deaths, 3,530 cases in active isolation, and 11,171 not in active isolation. The CAR Score is 22.9.

For more information, visit dphss.guam.gov/covid-19-testing. 

Guam COVID-19 Vaccination Update
As of September 27, 95 additional residents received their first dose in a two-dose series, 18 residents received their dose in the single-dose series, and an additional 210 residents have become fully vaccinated. To date, a total of 119,227 (87.48%) of Guam’s eligible population (residents 12 years and older) is fully vaccinated. This percentage includes 10,597 fully vaccinated residents between the ages of 12 – 17, and 108,630 fully vaccinated adults.

Click here to view the Get a Boost flyer