JIC RELEASE NO. 929 - Two COVID-19-related Fatalities Reported; 9 Cases with Variants of Concern Identified; COVID-19 Test Results: 815 New Cases, 27 Hospitalized; Mangilao mAb Treatment Center Hours of Operation for Thursday; COVID-19 Testing and Vaccina

Two COVID-19-related Fatalities Reported
Today, the Joint Information Center was notified of two (2) COVID-19-related fatalities that occurred on January 18, 2022:

• The 275th COVID-19-related fatality was pronounced dead on arrival at the Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH). The patient was a 70-year-old female, unvaccinated, with underlying health conditions. She tested positive on January 18, 2022.

• The 276th COVID-19-related fatality occurred at GMH. The patient was a 67-year-old male, vaccinated with underlying health conditions. He tested positive on January 8, 2022.

“Though the fight with COVID-19 has us fatigued, we must not surrender to this virus which has taken too many of our loved ones too soon,” said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. “For those who grieve, Jeff, Josh, and I offer our deepest sympathies and prayers in your time of mourning. With each moment of silence, let us all recommit to the safeguards that have helped us reach this point in the pandemic. Get vaccinated if you haven’t done so already. Get boosted if it’s your time. And continue to practice the 3 Ws.” 

GBHWC Crisis Hotline

The Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center (GBHWC) has a Crisis Hotline available 24/7 at (671) 647-8833/4. For those feeling anxious, stressed, overwhelmed, or need to talk to someone, GBHWC has experienced providers available and ready to assist the community with any heightened stress and anxiety experienced as a result of COVID-19.

Older Adults, People with Serious Chronic Medical Conditions are Most at Risk for Serious Complications and Death Due to SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19

Older adults and individuals with serious chronic medical conditions are most at risk for serious complications and death due to COVID-19. Serious chronic medical conditions include:

• Heart disease

• Diabetes

• Lung disease

• Obesity

• Immunocompromised conditions (e.g. cancer, lupus)

• Chronic liver disease

• Chronic renal disease

• Neurologic or neurodevelopmental condition

• Current or former smoking

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. Individuals who are sick are advised to:

• Stay home, except to seek medical care. Call ahead before visiting the clinic/doctor.

• Monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 including fever, cough, and shortness of breath, fatigue, body aches, headaches, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, nausea and/or diarrhea.

• Get tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19. While waiting for test results, you should stay away from others, including staying apart from those living in your household.

9 Cases with Variants of Concern Identified

Today, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) received nine (9) new results from virus samples collected on Guam between December 19, 2021 to December 27, 2021, which have undergone genome sequencing by the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) State Laboratory Division. DPHSS received the second set of results from the Hawaii DOH State Lab Division. Of the nine (9) samples, seven (7) were identified as the Omicron Variant of Concern (VOC), while two (2) were identified as the Delta VOC. The breakdown is as follows:

    Omicron (VOC)

• Seven (7) BA.1

Delta (VOC)

• Two (2) AY.25

To date, 521 SARS-CoV-2 virus samples have been submitted to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Hawaii DOH State Lab Division for genome sequencing and identified a total of three hundred twenty (320) COVID-19 cases infected with variants. DPHSS previously reported variants from results from the CDC and the Hawaii DOH State Lab 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

• two hundred two (212) cases identified with the Delta variant and its sublineages 

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

27 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 16 vaccinated people hospitalized for COVID-19 compared to 63 unvaccinated people hospitalized for COVID-19. The risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19 is about 4 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: 815 New Cases of COVID-19 
Today, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) reported 815 new cases of COVID-19 from 2,893 specimens analyzed on January 18, 2022. 46 cases were identified through contact tracing. To date, there have been a total of 25,033 officially reported cases, 276 deaths, 5,269 cases in active isolation, and 19,488 not in active isolation. 

Mangilao mAb Treatment Center Hours of Operation for Thursday
The Monoclonal Antibody (mAb) Treatment Center located at the Mangilao Senior Citizens Center in Mangilao will open at 10 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. on Thursday, January 20, 2022. The change in hours of operation is due to facilities maintenance. 

Normal hours of operation from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday are expected to resume Friday, January 21, 2022. If any further changes to the schedule are necessary, an announcement will be made.

Tiyan COVID-19 Outreach Moves to Appointment-Based Testing, Hours Extended
Community COVID-19 testing at the old carnival grounds in Tiyan, Barrigada has transitioned to an appointment-based system with extended hours. Unscheduled drive-ups will be accepted on a limited basis. For the safety of the community and swabbers, only four (4) adults per vehicle are allowed to be tested. Symptomatic patients will be prioritized at unscheduled drive-ups. To schedule an appointment, visit tinyurl.com/covidstopswithme. 

Fill out a COVID-19 Testing Patient Assessment Form ahead of time, available at dphss.guam.gov/covid-19-testing. 

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

Food Commodities Distribution Continues Tomorrow

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 January 18, 2022, a total of 132,067 of Guam’s eligible population (residents 5 years and older) is fully vaccinated. This total includes 13,007 residents 12 – 17 years old. 5,907 residents 5 – 11 years old received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech two dose series. 3,757 residents 5 – 11 years old have completed their two-dose series. An additional 362 residents received their booster shots and a total of 46,970 47,332 booster shots have been administered to eligible residents since September 29, 2021.