JIC RELEASE NO. 814 - Two COVID-19-related Fatalities Reported; COVID-19 Updates: 57 Hospitalized; 131 Out of 908 Test Positive; Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Booster Village Clinics Begin October 11; 67 Cases with Variants Identified

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

• The 211th COVID-19-related fatality occurred at the Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) on October 7, 2021. The patient was a 73-year-old female, unvaccinated, with underlying health conditions. She tested positive on September 18, 2021. 
• The 212th COVID-19-related fatality occurred at GMH on October 8, 2021. The patient was a 39-year-old male, fully vaccinated, with underlying health conditions. He tested positive on September 8, 2021. 

“We are faced with another day of grief and sadness brought upon us by this awful virus that has afflicted us for the past 19 months. To those who have experienced the greatest of tragedy during this time, Jeff, Josh, and I pray you find comfort and healing,” said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. “While we are being tested in this unprecedented pandemic, we know the strength of our people and our community and we will overcome this darkness.” 

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.

57 Hospitalized for COVID-19 –31 Unvaccinated

COVID-19 Test Results: 131 New Cases of COVID-19
Today, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) reported 131 new cases of COVID-19 out of 908 tests performed on October 7. Fifty-one (51) cases were identified through contact tracing. To date, there have been a total of 16,058 officially reported cases, 212 deaths, 2,663 cases in active isolation, and 13,183 not in active isolation. The CAR Score is 27.9.

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

COVID-19 Booster Village Clinics for 65 Years and Older Begin October 11
COVID-19 vaccine booster village clinics are being offered by DPHSS in partnership with the Mayors’ Council of Guam for Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine recipients who completed their initial two-dose series at least 6 months ago and are 65 years and older. For appointments, register at tinyurl.com/covidstopswithme or call your village mayor:

67 Cases with Variants Identified 

Today, DPHSS received sixty-seven (67) new results from virus samples collected on Guam between July 25 to August 10, which have undergone genome sequencing by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). DPHSS received the tenth set of results from the CDC. Eight (8) of the sixty-seven (67) samples received were identified as Variants Being Monitored (VBM) while fifty-nine (59) of the sixty-seven (67) were identified as the Delta Variant of Concern (VOC). The breakdown is as follows:

Alpha (VBM)

• Eight (8) B.1.1.7

Delta (VOC)

• Forty-three (43) AY.2 sub-lineages
  • Forty-two  (42) AY.25
  • One (1) AY.26
• Ten (10) B.1.617.2 (Delta)
• Three (3) AY.1 sub-lineages
  • Three (3) AY.14
• Three (3) AY.3 alias B.1.617.2.3

To date, 246 SARS-CoV-2 virus samples have been submitted to the CDC for genome sequencing and identified a total of one hundred five (105) COVID-19 cases infected with variants. DPHSS previously reported variants from results from the CDC and identified the following:

• seventy-nine (79) cases identified with the B.1.1.7 Alpha variant 
• fourteen (14) cases identified with the B.1.429 Epsilon variant 
• four (4) cases identified with the B.1.351 Beta variant
• seven (7) cases identified with the B.1.617.2 and AY.3 Delta variant 
• one (1) case identified with the  P.1 Gamma variant

On September 21, 2021, the U.S. Government SARS-CoV-2 Interagency Group added a new variant classification designated as Variants Being Monitored (VBM). This class includes previously designated Variants of Interest (VOI) or Variants of Concern that are no longer detected, or are circulating at very low levels in the United States and do not pose a significant risk to public health in the United States. These include the Alpha, Beta, Epsilon, Eta, Gamma, Iota, Kappa, 1.617.3, Mu, and Zeta variants. The Delta variant is classified as the only VOC. There are currently no variants classified as Variants of High Consequence (VOHC).

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Booster Shots Available 
Booster Shots are 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+ with underlying medical conditions
• Anyone 18+ 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 living settings

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

Guam COVID-19 Vaccination Update
As of October 7, 39 additional residents received their first dose in a two-dose series, 4 residents received their dose in the single-dose series, and an additional 130 residents have become fully vaccinated. To date, a total of 121,000 (88.78%) of Guam’s eligible population (residents 12 years and older) is fully vaccinated. This percentage includes 11,170 fully vaccinated residents between the ages of 12 – 17, and 109,830 fully vaccinated adults. 3,395 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have been administered to eligible residents as either a booster or an additional dose. 50 doses of the Moderna vaccine have been administered as an additional dose to eligible residents.