JIC RELEASE NO. 771 - COVID-19 Hospital Census: 35; Cumulative COVID-19 Test Results: 114 New Cases; More COVID-19 Updates; Extension of Distribution of P-EBT SNAP Benefits

35 Hospitalized for COVID-19 – 21 Unvaccinated

The Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH), Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC), and U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) Guam report the following COVID-19 hospital census, as of 6 p.m.:

Cumulative COVID-19 Test Results: 114 New Cases of COVID-19

Today, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) reported twenty (20) new cases of COVID-19 out of 291 tests performed on August 29. Seven (7) cases were identified through contact tracing. An additional ninety-four (94) cases were also reported today as a result of complete analysis and case submissions from other clinics for preliminary COVID-19 test results reported August 28 – 29. Official case counts for the past weekend results are as follows:

• August 28: 174 of 1,603 test positive for COVID-19. Eighty-two (82) cases were identified through contact tracing.   
• August 29: 113 of 1,307 test positive for COVID-19. Sixty (60) cases were identified through contact tracing. 

To date there have been a total of 10,353 officially reported cases of COVID-19 with 145 deaths, 1,358 cases in active isolation and 8,850 not in active isolation. The CAR Score is 39.3.
 

COVID-19 Testing Continues Through Saturday, September 4

Free COVID-19 testing continues at the locations and times below: 

For quicker service, visit dphss.guam.gov/covid-19-testing to download, print, and complete a COVID-19 Testing Patient Assessment Form before arriving at the testing site. 

Only four (4) people per vehicle are allowed to be tested. Minors must be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian and provide government-issued identification to validate age. The parent/legal guardian will also be required to sign a consent form. Testing for travel purposes will not be conducted at DPHSS drive-thru testing sites and must be scheduled with the Northern Region Community Health Center (NRCHC) by calling (671) 635-7525/6. 

The community is reminded to monitor for symptoms and get tested if they are identified as close contacts to confirmed positive cases or are experiencing any of the known COVID-19 symptoms, which include, but are not limited to:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath 
• Fever
• Chills
• Muscle pain
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

This list is not exhaustive of all possible symptoms. Other less common symptoms have been reported, including gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. 

Seven GDOE Students, Four Employees Test Positive for COVID-19

Today, the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) confirmed seven (7) positive cases for COVID-19 involving students, and four (4) positive cases involving employees. Student cases were identified at Adacao Elementary School, Inarajan Middle School, George Washington High School, Tiyan High School, and three separate cases identified at Juan M. Guerrero Elementary School. Employee cases were identified at Tamuning Elementary School, Agueda I. Johnston Middle School, F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School, and Southern High School. In collaboration with the DPHSS, GDOE has identified and notified teachers as well as parents of students who may have been in contact with the index case in order to schedule testing. Tested individuals will remain in quarantine until they are cleared by DPHSS. Cleaning and disinfecting of areas of the campuses are taking place.

8/14 – 8/27: School-Level COVID-19 Tracking (Student Cases):

COVID-19 Vaccination Schedule 

COVID-19 vaccination clinics continue at the locations and times below:

Guam COVID-19 Vaccination Update – 80.05% of Eligible Population Fully Vaccinated

As of August 28, 898 additional residents received their first dose in a two-dose series, 148 residents received their dose in the single-dose series and an additional 390 residents have become fully vaccinated. To date, a total of 109,102 (80.05%) of Guam’s eligible population (residents 12 years and older) is fully vaccinated. This percentage includes 8,932 fully vaccinated residents between the ages of 12 – 17, as well as Guam's fully vaccinated adult population of 100,170. 

Extension of Distribution of P-EBT SNAP Benefits

DPHSS, in collaboration with GDOE, announces the extension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) distribution until Saturday September 4, 2021. The P-EBT is federally funded and offered through the Food and Nutrition Services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

School-aged students are eligible for P-EBT if they:

• were eligible to receive free or reduced-price school meals under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP); or
• received such meals because their school is participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), but did not receive meals at school due to COVID-related closures or virtual learning.

Below are the dates, time and location for P-EBT Cards distribution for registered parent/guardian whose child/children attend a GDOE School:

Benefits may be available between 12 a.m. and 7 p.m. on the dates specified above. P-EBT benefits are valid for one (1) year.

• Register at tinyurl.com/pebtguam  
• Bring a valid picture ID such as a Driver’s License, Guam ID, military ID or Passport. Photocopies of IDs are not accepted.
• Written authorizations are not acceptable.
• You must be the registered parent/guardian for your child with GDOE. If you are not the registered parent/guardian, a P-EBT card WILL NOT be issued to you. If your child is an active member in another SNAP household, then a card will be issued to the head of household in that SNAP case.
• P-EBT Cards are issued to Child Protective Services (CPS) for children identified as a ward of the court or under the care of CPS. They will be contacting families directly.
• If the parent/guardian name is not listed, a DPHSS P-EBT Student Verification of Enrollment Form will be issued at the distribution site. This form will be taken back to the child’s respective school where GDOE staff will complete and validate the form. Parents will then return the form to the troubleshooting table at the distribution site.
• Individuals, who have legal and/or temporary custody or Power or Attorney (POA), please ensure this guardianship is recorded and reflected in GDOE's PowerSchool system.
• If you scheduled an appointment but was seen as a walk-in, PLEASE CANCEL YOUR APPOINTMENT.

For more information, please contact the P-EBT call center by calling 311 and dialing option 7 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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