JIC RELEASE NO. 944 - Five COVID-19-related Fatalities Reported; Cumulative COVID-19 Test Results: 527 New Cases, 36 Hospitalized; 10 Cases with Omicron Variant Identified; Additional COVID-19 Updates

Five COVID-19-related Fatalities Reported
Today, the Joint Information Center was notified of five (5) COVID-19-related fatalities:

• The 286th COVID-19-related fatality was pronounced dead at the Chief Medical Examiner’s morgue on January 15, 2022. The patient was an 63-year-old male, unvaccinated, with underlying conditions. He tested positive on December 22, 2021.

• The 287th COVID-19-related fatality was pronounced dead on arrival at the U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) on January 27, 2022. The patient was a 57-year-old male, vaccinated, with underlying health conditions who tested positive on January 27, 2022. 

• The 288th COVID-19-related fatality was pronounced dead on arrival at the Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) on January 29, 2022. The patient was a 94-year-old female, vaccinated, with underlying health conditions who tested positive on January 30, 2022. 

• The 289th COVID-19-related fatality was pronounced dead on arrival at GMH on January 29, 2022 at USNH. The patient was a 82-year-old female, vaccinated, with underlying health conditions who tested positive on January 29, 2022. 

• The 290th COVID-19-related fatality was pronounced dead on arrival at USNH on January 29, 2022. The patient was a 76-year-old female, vaccinated, with underlying health conditions who tested positive on January 29, 2022. 

“Governor Lou, First Gentleman Jeff, and I pray for comfort for the families of those we’ve lost during this pandemic,” said Acting Governor Josh Tenorio. “Our fight continues and we must use all defenses known to us, especially around those we love and feel most comfortable with. There is no shame in being overly cautious or overly protective; the community will be stronger for it.”

36 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 19 vaccinated people hospitalized for COVID-19 compared to 128 unvaccinated people hospitalized for COVID-19. The risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19 is about 7 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: 527 New Cases Reported January 29 – 31
From January 29-31, 2022, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) reported 527 new cases of COVID-19. 116 of these cases were reported through the Department of Defense. The 527 new cases does not include cases previously reported in JIC Release No. 942 and 943. The breakdown of the cumulative results is below:

• January 31: 46 of 166 test positive for COVID-19

• January 30: 578 of 1,537 test positive for COVID-19 (364 cases previously reported). 

• January 29: 669 of 2,066 test positive for COVID-19 (402 cases previously reported). 

To date, there have been a total of 32,331 officially reported cases, 290 deaths, 6,929 cases in active isolation, and 25,112 not in active isolation.

10 Cases with Omicron Variant Identified 
Today, DPHSS received ten (10) new results from virus samples collected on Guam between January 7 to January 10, 2022, which have undergone genome sequencing by the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) State Laboratory Division. DPHSS received the third set of results from the Hawaii DOH State Lab Division. All 10 samples received were identified as the Omicron Variant of Concern (VOC). The breakdown is as follows:

    Omicron (VOC)

• Six (6) BA.1

• Four (4) BA.1.1

To date, 531 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 seventy-one (371) 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 

• four (4) cases identified with the B.1.351 Beta variant

• two hundred fifty-six (256) cases identified with the Delta variant and its sublineages 

• fourteen (14) cases identified with the B.1.429 Epsilon variant 

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

• seven (7) cases identified with the BA.1 Omicron variant

Tiyan COVID-19 Outreach Appointment-Based Testing

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. To schedule an appointment, visit tinyurl.com/covidstopswithme. 

DPHSS continues to support diagnostic testing for COVID-19 but will be prioritizing COVID-19 testing to target individuals with a likelihood of severe disease, hospitalization, or death due to COVID-19. The DPHSS Screening Guide Memorandum further adjusts the criteria for who may get tested for COVID-19.  CLICK HERE to view the guide.

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

COVID-19 Vaccination Support Clinic for Families of Children with Disabilities

COVID-19 vaccination support clinics for families of children with disabilities are available. These clinics will also be open to the community. 

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

Guam COVID-19 Vaccination Update 

As of January 30, 2022, a total of 132,996 of Guam’s eligible population (residents 5 years and older) is fully vaccinated. This total includes 13,122 residents 12 – 17 years old. 6,642 residents 5 – 11 years old received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech two dose series. 4,279 residents 5 – 11 years old have completed their two-dose series. An additional 670 residents received their booster shots and a total of 51,265 booster shots have been administered to eligible residents since September 29, 2021.