JIC RELEASE NO. 821 - Three COVID-19-related Fatalities Reported; COVID-19 Updates: 95 New Cases, 56 Hospitalized; Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Booster Village Clinic Schedule; October 2021 SNAP Emergency Allotments; Food Commodities Distribution Continues

Three COVID-19-related Fatalities Reported
The Joint Information Center was notified of three (3) COVID-19-related fatalities:

• The 220th COVID-19-related fatality was pronounced dead on arrival at the U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) Guam on October 13, 2021. The patient was a 4-month-old male. 

• The 221st COVID-19-related fatality occurred at the Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) on October 14, 2021. The patient was a 64-year-old male, vaccinated, with underlying health conditions. He tested positive on September 24, 2021 and was admitted on September 29, 2021. 

• The 222nd COVID-19-related fatality occurred at GRMC on October 14, 2021. The patient was a 21-year-old female, unvaccinated, with underlying health conditions. She tested positive upon admission on September 28, 2021. 

“As a mother and grandmother, I cannot think of a greater, more excruciating pain than the loss of a child. In times of mourning, saying goodbye to anyone is never easy, but saying goodbye to a sweet infant is truly devastating,” said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. “Jeff, Josh and I offer our heartfelt sympathies and prayers for all those who have lost loved ones and that our community be ever mindful that this horrible disease touches us all, especially the most vulnerable and defenseless.”

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.

56 Hospitalized for COVID-19 – 28 Unvaccinated

COVID-19 Test Results: 95 New Cases of COVID-19
Today, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) reported 95 new cases of COVID-19 out of 996 tests performed on October 13. Thirty (30) cases were identified through contact tracing. To date, there have been a total of 16,690 officially reported cases, 222 deaths, 2,995 cases in active isolation, and 13,437 not in active isolation. The CAR Score is 21.6.

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

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Booster Village Clinic Schedule
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:

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. 

October 2021 SNAP Emergency Allotments
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Supplemental Emergency Allotment for October 2021 will be released on October 22, 2021. The benefits will be electronically loaded into the SNAP recipients’ EBT cards. For more information, contact:

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

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.

Guam COVID-19 Vaccination Update
As of October 13, 75 additional residents received their first dose in a two-dose series, 21 residents received their dose in the single-dose series, and an additional 117 residents have become fully vaccinated. To date, a total of 121,791 (89.36%) of Guam’s eligible population (residents 12 years and older) is fully vaccinated. This percentage includes 11,490 fully vaccinated residents between the ages of 12 – 17, and 110,301 fully vaccinated adults. 5,257 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have been administered to eligible residents as either a booster or an additional dose. 117 doses of the Moderna vaccine have been administered as an additional dose to eligible residents.