JIC RELEASE NO. 755 - Thirty-seven of 560 Test Positive for COVID-19; Five GDOE Students Test Positive for COVID-19; Physicians Advisory Issued for Additional Dose of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine; COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Schedule; Issuance of SNAP P-EBT

Results: 37 New Cases of COVID-19
Thirty-seven (37) new cases of COVID-19 were identified out of 560 tests performed on August 17. Thirteen (13) cases were identified through contact tracing. To date, there have been a total of 9,118 officially reported cases of COVID-19 with 144 deaths, 412 cases in active isolation – inclusive of sixteen (16) hospitalized cases with five (5) hospitalized cases receiving ICU-level care, and 8,562 not in active isolation. The CAR Score is 9.2.

Guam COVID-19 vaccination update: As of August 17, a total of 106,108 (77.85%) of Guam’s eligible population (residents 12 years and older) have received either both doses in the two-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) or the single-dose series (Johnson & Johnson/Janssen) of the COVID-19 vaccine. This percentage includes 8,444 fully vaccinated residents between the ages of 12 – 17, as well as Guam's fully vaccinated adult population of 97,664.

Five GDOE Students Test Positive for COVID-19
Today, the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) confirmed five separate cases of COVID-19 involving students at Adacao Elementary School, Machananao Elementary School, Agueda I. Johnston Middle School, George Washington High School and Okkodo High School. In collaboration with the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS), GDOE has identified and notified teachers as well as parents of students who may have been in contact with the index cases to schedule testing. Tested individuals will remain in quarantine until they are cleared by DPHSS to return to campus. Cleaning and disinfecting of areas of the campuses are taking place to ensure schools are ready for regular hours of operation on Thursday, August 19.

Week of August 14 – 20: GDOE School-Level COVID-19 Tracking (Student Cases)

Physicians Advisory Issued for Additional Dose of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine
Today, DPHSS issued Physicians Advisory No. 2021-009 advising Guam licensed physicians and providers of the guidelines for administering an additional dose of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)-approved mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. The Physicians Advisory was issued at the recommendation of the Vaccine and Antiviral Prioritization Policy Committee (VAPPC). 

Late last week, the FDA and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised receive an additional dose of an mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) at least 28 days after the completion of the initial mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series. The Physicians Advisory notes that there is some clinical subjectivity that surrounds the definition of someone with a moderately to severely immunocompromised status. The CDC has stated that this includes people who have:

• Active treatment for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies
• Receipt of solid organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy
• Receipt of CAR-T-cell or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within two years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy)
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (i.e., ≥20mg prednisone or equivalent per day), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, tumor-necrosis (TNF) blockers, and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory.
• Chronic medical conditions such as asplenia and chronic renal disease may be associated with varying degrees of immune deficit.

The Physicians Advisory cautions that even with this provided list to serve as a guideline, there is still clinical subjectivity at hand. Therefore, the VAPPC has recommended that persons receiving additional doses come at the recommendation of a licensed physician or mid-level provider. This can be in the form of a physical or a verbal prescription that must include the qualifying diagnosis/condition, which will be documented in the recipient’s immunization record. Per recommendations from the CDC, anyone who believes they meet the criteria can present to a public vaccination clinic and self-attest as to their eligibility. This will be subject to the clinic provider’s review. 

To read Physicians Advisory 2021-009 in its entirety, CLICK HERE.

UPDATE: COVID-19 Testing Continues 
DPHSS drive-through COVID-19 testing continues at the old carnival grounds in Tiyan, Barrigada through Saturday, August 21. Testing is from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Up to 400 tests will be offered. Only polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing will be conducted. For purposes of qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, samples will be collected through nasopharyngeal swabs. Testing is free and will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis. No symptoms are needed to qualify for testing. Bring a photo ID. 

COVID-19 test results can be expected within 24 hours. To receive results via email, send a request to [email protected]. For quicker service, DPHSS encourages individuals to 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 for the minor to be tested for COVID-19. 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.

UPDATE: COVID-19 Vaccination Schedule 

COVID-19 vaccination clinics continue at the locations and times below:

Bring a photo ID. Those due for their second dose are reminded to bring their COVID-19 immunization card. To view the complete schedule of COVID-19 vaccination clinics, visit dphss.guam.gov/vaccinategu.

Special Requirements for Minors to Receive the Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine:

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

Homebound Vaccination Requests
DPHSS and the University of Guam (UOG) Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (CEDDERS) have partnered to service all homebound requests. Individuals who would like to request homebound COVID-19 vaccinations should call 311, option 2, between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, to schedule an appointment. 

Issuance of SNAP P-EBT Cards Continue
DPHSS, in collaboration with the GDOE continues the issuance of the Supplemental Assistance Program (SNAP) Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) cards at the Micronesia Mall Center Court. Below are the dates, times, and location for P-EBT Cards distribution for registered parent/guardian whose child/children attend a GDOE School:

The P-EBT Issuance Form, Q & A information sheet and brochure will be available for download at dphss.guam.gov. While hard copy issuance forms are available at the distribution site, DPHSS and GDOE recommend that parents download, complete and print issuance forms prior to arriving at the distribution site. 

P-EBT Card Distribution Requirements:   

• Register at tinyurl.com/pebtguam  
• Bring a valid picture ID such as a Driver’s License, Guam ID, military ID or Passport. Photocopies of IDs are not accepted.
• You must be the registered parent/guardian for your child with GDOE. If you are not the registered parent/guardian, a P-EBT card WILL NOT be issued to you. If your child is an active member in another SNAP household, then a card will be issued to the head of household in that SNAP case.

Walk-ins will be accepted on a limited basis. For questions about the P-EBT, you can call 311, option 7.

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.