JIC RELEASE NO. 878 - DPHSS Issues Guidance Memo 2022-07; COVID-19 Test Results: 12 New Cases, 11 Hospitalized; Vaccination Clinic at UOG Closes on Wednesday, Dec. 15; SNAP Supplemental Emergency Allotment for December 2021; UPDATED COVID-19 Vaccination a

DPHSS Issues Guidance Memo 2022-07
Today, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) issued DPHSS Guidance Memo 2022-07, relative to amending the requirements for traditional graduation ceremonies for Schools and Institutions of Higher Education (IHE), in accordance with Executive Orders No. 2021-20 and 2021-29 during the current Pandemic Condition of Readiness 3 (PCOR 3), which was declared by Executive Order No. 2021-16 on July 21, 2021. The requirements set forth are intended to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 while providing schools and IHEs an option for a traditional graduation ceremony. 

DPHSS Guidance Memo 2022-07 supersedes DPHSS Guidance Memorandum 2021-14 (Amendment #1) in its entirety, and does not apply to the “Grad and Go” graduation concept and provides general restrictions and requirements, provisions on social distancing, use of face masks and contact logs. 

For more information, contact the Division of Environmental Health at 671-300-9579 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m, Monday through Friday, excluding weekends and holidays, or email, dphss-deh@dphss.guam.gov. To read the guidance in its entirety, CLICK HERE.

11 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 5 vaccinated people hospitalized for COVID-19 compared to 25 unvaccinated people hospitalized for COVID- 19. The risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19 is about 5 times higher for the unvaccinated as compared to the vaccinated. *Estimated population is based on DPHSS Immunization Program analysis of 2020 Census data. Updates are expected pending further Census 2020 data breakdown.
 

COVID-19 Test Results: 12 New Cases of COVID-19
The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) reported twelve (12) new cases of COVID-19 out of 762 tests performed on December 2. Six (6) cases were identified through contact tracing. To date, there have been a total of 19,239 officially reported cases, 266 deaths, 271 cases in active isolation, and 18,702 not in active isolation. The CAR Score is 0.7.

Vaccination Clinic at UOG Closes on Wednesday, Dec. 15
The COVID-19 vaccination clinic operating at the University of Guam (UOG) Field House will be closing Wednesday, December 15, 2021. The community is encouraged to schedule appointments now through tinyurl.com/vaxguam or visit the UOG clinic as a walk-in by or before Wednesday, December 15. COVID-19 vaccination clinics will still be available to the community through expanded efforts by DPHSS.

Requirements for Minors to Receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine:

• Parent/legal guardian must provide minor’s birth certificate 

• Parent/legal guardian must have a government-issued photo identification (ID)

• Minor must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian

• Guardians must present legal guardianship or power-of-attorney documents

Fill out a COVID-19 Testing Patient Assessment Form ahead of time, available at dphss.guam.gov/covid-19-testing. Individuals waiting for COVID-19 test results must quarantine at home until cleared by DPHSS. Test results are available via email by sending a request to covidresults@dphss.guam.gov

SNAP Supplemental Emergency Allotment for December 2021
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Supplemental Emergency Allotment for December 2021 will be released on December 17, 2021. The benefits will be electronically loaded into the SNAP recipients’ EBT cards. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please contact the numbers below.

• 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

Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Treatment Continues
DPHSS, in partnership with the Mayors’ Council of Guam and the Guam National Guard, continues to offer outpatient monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy at the Mangilao Senior Citizens Center in Mangilao. Patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 may receive mAb therapy if they meet the eligibility criteria through a referral from their private physician, a COVID-19 community test site, or a hospital. A Pre-Screening Assessment has been developed to guide individuals who may be eligible for mAb treatment. To schedule an appointment, call 671-998-4627 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 671-734-9203 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, CLICK HERE.

Guam COVID-19 Vaccination Update 
As of December 2, a total of 125,723 of Guam’s eligible population (residents 5 years and older) is fully vaccinated. This total includes 12,052 residents 12 – 17 years old. 3,052 residents 5 – 11 years old received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech two dose series. 193 residents 5 – 11 years old have completed their two-dose series. 27,564 booster shots have been administered to eligible residents.

For the latest information on COVID-19, visit dphss.guam.gov or guamrecovery.com. For inquiries, contact 311 through a local number, or call the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10. 

Click here to view DPHSS Guidance Memo 2022-07 Graduation Ceremony Requirements (12-03-2021)