JIC RELEASE NO. 779 - COVID-19 Hospital Census: 57; Preliminary Results: One New Case of COVID-19; Updated: COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Clinic Schedule; P-EBT Update; Food Commodities Distribution Continues

57 Hospitalized for COVID-19 – 28 Unvaccinated
The Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) and Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) report the following COVID-19 hospital census, as of 5 p.m.:

Preliminary COVID-19 Test Results: One New Case
Today, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) reported a preliminary case count of one (1) new case of COVID-19 from 36 specimens analyzed on September 5. Additional results are pending analysis and submission from other clinics and will be reported on Tuesday, September 7. 

Special Note: Free COVID-19 community testing is not available on government or observed holidays. There was no free COVID-19 community testing on Sunday, September 5, and Monday, September 6. 

To date, there have been a total of 11,293 officially reported cases of COVID-19 with 151 deaths, 2,016 cases in active isolation, and 9,126 not in active isolation. As of September 3, the CAR Score is 46.8.

Free COVID-19 Testing Resumes Tuesday, September 7

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. 

Individuals waiting for COVID-19 test results must quarantine at home until cleared by DPHSS. Individuals whose test results are positive and who are at high risk for serious illness will be given information on outpatient monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19.

COVID-19 Vaccination Schedule 

P-EBT Updates
DPHSS will continue the distribution of Supplemental Assistance Program (SNAP) Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Cards through Saturday, September 11. The P-EBT is federally funded and offered through the Food and Nutrition Services of the United States Department of Agriculture.

P-EBT Cards distribution is as follows:

Parents who visited the troubleshooting table at the initial site at the Micronesia Mall and were informed they will be contacted about their children’s cases do not need to schedule an appointment. You will be informed when you can pick-up your child’s card.

School-aged students are eligible for P-EBT if they:

• were eligible to receive free or reduced-price school meals under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP); or
• received such meals because their school is participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) but did not receive meals at school due to COVID-related closures or virtual learning.

Requirements for P-EBT distribution are as follows:

• Registration at tinyurl.com/pebtguam   
• Valid picture ID such as a Driver’s License, Guam ID, military ID or Passport. Photocopies of IDs are not accepted.
• Written authorization is not acceptable.
• 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.
• P-EBT Cards are issued to Child Protective Services (CPS) for children identified as a ward of the court or under the care of CPS. They will be contacting families directly.
• If the parent/guardian name is not listed, a DPHSS P-EBT Student Verification of Enrollment Form will be issued at the distribution site. This form will be taken back to the child’s respective school, where GDOE staff will complete and validate the form. Parents will then return the form to the troubleshooting table at the distribution site.
• Individuals, who have legal and/or temporary custody or Power of Attorney (POA), please ensure the guardianship is recorded and reflected in GDOE's PowerSchool system.

Benefits may be available between 12 a.m. and 7 p.m. on the dates specified above. P-EBT benefits are valid for one (1) year. School-aged students are eligible for P-EBT if they:

• were eligible to receive free or reduced-price school meals under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP); or
• received such meals because their school is participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) but did not receive meals at school due to COVID-related closures or virtual learning.

For more information, please contact the P-EBT call center by calling 311 and dialing option 7 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Food Commodities Distribution Continues
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. 

Commodities are also being provided, in bulk, to the community organizations.  The organizations will receive an array of food commodities and will distribute the commodities directly to their clients/ families/households. The schedule of food commodities to be picked up by the organization for this week is as follows:

Guam COVID-19 Vaccination Update
As of September 4, 466 additional residents received their first dose in a two-dose series, 90 residents received their dose in the single-dose series, and an additional 447 residents have become fully vaccinated. To date, a total of 111,062 (81.49%) of Guam’s eligible population (residents 12 years and older) is fully vaccinated. This percentage includes 9,027 fully vaccinated residents between the ages of 12 – 17, as well as Guam's fully vaccinated adult population of 102,035. 

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.