JIC RELEASE NO. 896 - Cumulative COVID-19 Test Results: 18 New Cases, Seven Hospitalized; 73 Cases with Delta Variant Identified; Additional COVID-19 Updates

Seven 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 3 vaccinated people hospitalized for COVID-19 compared to 15 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.

Cumulative COVID-19 Test Results: 18 New Cases of COVID-19 December 18 – 20
Today, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) reported four (4) new cases of COVID-19 from 85 specimens analyzed on December 19. An additional 14 cases were also reported today as a result of complete analysis and case submissions from other clinics for preliminary COVID-19 test results reported December 18 – 19. Official case counts for the past weekend results are as follows:

• 11 of 811 test positive for COVID-19 (three cases previously reported on December 18). Two (2) cases were identified through contact tracing.
• Nine (9) of 442 test positive for COVID-19 (three cases previously reported on December 19). One (1) case was identified through contact tracing.

To date, there have been a total of 19,390 officially reported cases, 270 deaths, 216 cases in active isolation, and 18,904 not in active isolation. The CAR Score is 0.8.

73 Cases with Delta Variant Identified
Today, DPHSS received seventy-three (73) new results from virus samples collected on Guam between October 1 to October 16, which have undergone genome sequencing by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). DPHSS received the twelfth set of results from the CDC. All 73 samples received were identified as the Delta Variant of Concern (VOC). The breakdown is as follows:

    Delta (VOC)

• Two (2) AY.103 

• Fifty-two (52) AY.25

• Sixteen (16) AY.3

• Three (3) AY.4

To date, 438 SARS-CoV-2 virus samples have been submitted to the CDC for genome sequencing and identified a total of two hundred thirty-seven (237) COVID-19 cases infected with variants. DPHSS previously reported variants from results from the CDC and identified the following:

• eighty-nine (89) 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

• one hundred twenty-nine (129) cases identified with the Delta variant and its sublineages 

• one (1) case identified with the P.1 Gamma variant

Guam COVID-19 Vaccination Update 

As of December 19, a total of 128,280 of Guam’s eligible population (residents 5 years and older) is fully vaccinated. This total includes 12,538 residents 12 – 17 years old. 4,362 residents 5 – 11 years old received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech two dose series. 2,001 residents 5 – 11 years old have completed their two-dose series. An additional 167 residents received their booster shots and a total of 36,221 booster shots have been administered to eligible residents since September 29, 2021.

COVID-19 Booster Shot Eligibility 

Adolescents 16 and 17 years of age who received a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (first two doses) are eligible for a single booster shot at least 6 months or more after their initial series. At this time, only the Pfizer-BioNTech booster vaccine is authorized and recommended for adolescents aged 16 and 17.

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 [email protected]