JIC RELEASE NO. 856 - Two COVID-19-Related Fatalities Reported; COVID-19 Test Results: 41 New Cases, 28 Hospitalized; Food Commodities Distribution Continues November 18; Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Two COVID-19-Related Fatalities Reported
The Joint Information Center was notified of two (2) COVID-19-related fatalities:

• The 259th COVID-19-related fatality occurred at the Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) on November 15, 2021. The patient was a 66-year-old male, unvaccinated with underlying health conditions. He tested positive on October 9, 2021.
• The 260th COVID-19-related fatality occurred at GMH on November 16, 2021. The patient was an 80-year-old male, unvaccinated with underlying health conditions. He tested positive on November 3, 2021.

“Jeff, Josh, and I pray for healing and offer our heartfelt condolences to those who have lost the most during this pandemic,” said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. “The only thing we can control are our personal efforts to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure we are all doing our part to not let the virus affect our most vulnerable loved ones.”

28 Hospitalized for COVID-19

SPECIAL NOTE: Based on today's data, if we were to compare two (2) hypothetical populations of 100,000 people each, vaccinated versus unvaccinated, there would be 14 vaccinated people hospitalized for COVID-19 compared to 86 unvaccinated people hospitalized for COVID- 19. The risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19 is about 6 times higher for the unvaccinated as compared to the vaccinated.

*Population is based on the 2018 Statistical Yearbook. Pending population update.
 

COVID-19 Test Results: 41 New Cases of COVID-19
Today, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) reported forty-one (41) new cases of COVID-19 out of 1,222 tests performed on November 15. Fifteen (15) cases were identified through contact tracing. To date, there have been a total of 18,983 officially reported cases, 260 deaths, 1,807 cases in active isolation, and 16,916 not in active isolation. The CAR Score is 3.3.

Requirements for Minors to Receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine:

• Parent/legal guardian must provide minor’s birth certificate 

• Parent/legal guardian must have a government-issued photo identification (ID)

• Minor must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian

• Guardians must present legal guardianship or power-of-attorney documents

For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (first two doses), the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial series:

• Anyone age 65 years and older

• Anyone age 18 years and older with underlying medical conditions

• Anyone 18 years and older with an elevated risk of COVID-19 exposure and transmission due to their occupation (e.g. 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) or institutional settings.

For individuals who received the Johnson and Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago. 

Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Treatment Continues
DPHSS, in partnership with the Mayors’ Council of Guam and the Guam National Guard, continues to offer outpatient monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy at the Mangilao Senior Citizens Center in Mangilao. Patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 may receive mAb therapy if they meet the eligibility criteria through a referral from their private physician, a COVID-19 community test site, or a hospital. A Pre-Screening Assessment has been developed to guide individuals who may be eligible for mAb treatment. To schedule an appointment, call 671-998-4627 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 671-734-9203 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, CLICK HERE.

Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 
DPHSS announces that the release of Pandemic Emergency Assistance Funds (PEAF) will be distributed to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) who received cash assistance in the month of October 2021.

PEAF will be distributed in two issuance dates. TANF Families will receive $1,161.25 on November 19, 2021. These benefits will be electronically loaded into the TANF recipients’ EBT cards. The second issuance will occur in the month of December, and the benefit amount will be determined based on the number of TANF cases approved as of November 2021.

This supplemental benefit is federally funded and offered through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The purpose is to provide certain non-recurrent, short term benefits to help TANF families with children deal with a specific crisis situation or episode of need or emergency assistance such as emergency housing and short-term homelessness assistance, emergency food aid, utility payments, burial assistance, clothing allowances and back to school costs incurred as a result of the pandemic. For more information, contact DPHSS Bureau of Economic Security (BES) by calling the numbers below:

• BES North (Dededo) at 671-635-7488/635-7484/635-7439/635-7396/635-7429
• BES Central (RAN-Care) at 671-300-8853/300-8854/300-8850/300-8865

Food Commodities Distribution Continues
The Guam Department of Education (GDOE), State Agency for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) under the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Nutrition Service distribution will be available to village constituents only on a first-come, first-served basis. Distribution is limited to three households per vehicle at the sites. Face masks must be worn; bring a photo ID.

Guam COVID-19 Vaccination Update
As of November 15, a total of 124,658 of Guam’s eligible population (residents 5 years and older) is fully vaccinated. 1,110 residents 5 – 11 years old received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech two dose series. 13,677 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, 6,883 doses of the Moderna and 173 doses of the Johnson and Johnson/Janssen vaccine have been administered as boosters to eligible residents.