JIC RELEASE NO. 833 - Three COVID-19-Related Fatalities Reported; COVID-19 Updates: 152 New Cases, 51 Hospitalized; DPHSS Job Fair Saturday, October 30; Food Commodities Distribution Continues

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

• The 228th COVID-19-related fatality occurred at the Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) on October 20, 2021. The patient was a 51-year-old male, unvaccinated. He tested positive on September 7. 
• The 229th COVID-19-related fatality occurred at GMH on October 25, 2021. The patient was a 72-year-old female, unvaccinated, with underlying health conditions. She tested positive on October 12. 
• The 230th COVID-19-related fatality was pronounced dead on arrival at GMH on October 26, 2021. The patient was a 96-year-old female, partially vaccinated, with underlying health conditions. She tested positive on October 15. 

"To their family and friends, our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time," said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. "The notice of other members of our community lost while battling this virus is a stark reminder that this is not ‘just the flu.’ Protect yourselves against this deadly virus by getting vaccinated and taking precautions seriously. Let’s not let our guard down."

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.

51 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 17 vaccinated people hospitalized for COVID-19 compared to 197 unvaccinated people hospitalized for COVID- 19. The risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19 is about 12 times higher for the unvaccinated as compared to the vaccinated.

COVID-19 Test Results: 152 New Cases of COVID-19
Today, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) reported 152 new cases of COVID-19 out of 1,334 tests performed on October 25. 41 cases were identified through contact tracing. To date, there have been a total of 17,823 officially reported cases, 230 deaths, 2,115 cases in active isolation, and 15,478 not in active isolation. The CAR Score is 17.5.

DPHSS Job Fair Saturday, October 30, 2021
DPHSS, in partnership with the Guam Department of Labor (GDOL), will be hosting a job fair on Saturday, October 30, 2021, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the American Jobs Center, Bell Tower, in Anigua. DPHSS is recruiting approximately 70 individuals to fill positions for its COVID-19 response efforts. These positions will assist the department in community outreach, processing of laboratory specimens, case investigation, health disparities, administrative duties, nursing, and other functions.

For more information about the job fair and about positions available at DPHSS, visit dphss.guam.gov/careers. Potential applicants can begin preparing for the job fair by preparing an application packet which should include official proof of identity, work eligibility, a resume, and a high school diploma, GED, college degree, or transcripts from a recognized accredited institution.

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. 

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 October 25, 20 additional residents received their first dose in a two-dose series, 19 residents received their dose in the single-dose series, and an additional 67 residents have become fully vaccinated. To date, a total of 123,084 (90.31%) of Guam’s eligible population (residents 12 years and older) is fully vaccinated. This percentage includes 12,052 fully vaccinated residents between the ages of 12 – 17, and 111,032 fully vaccinated adults. 8,244 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have been administered to eligible residents as either a booster or an additional dose. 712 doses of the Moderna vaccine have been administered as an additional dose to eligible residents.

Click here to view BOOSTER ELIGIBILITY