JIC RELEASE NO. 775 - 151st COVID-19-related Fatality Reported; COVID-19 Hospital Census: 51; COVID-19 Test Results: 197 New Cases; COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Opens at UOG Next Week; Last Day to Pick Up SNAP P-EBT Cards at Micronesia Mall; Additional COV

151st COVID-19-related Fatality Reported
The Joint Information Center (JIC) was notified that Guam’s 151st COVID-19-related fatality occurred at the Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) at approximately 8:36 a.m. on September 2, 2021. The patient was an 85-year-old female, unvaccinated who had tested positive for COVID-19.

“Today, it saddens me to share that Guam has lost another soul to COVID-19. Josh, Jeff, and I send our deepest condolences to her family and friends,” said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. “Now is not the time to throw in the towel, now is the time to stand up and protect those we love. Help stop the spread of COVID-19 by doing your part--wear your mask, wash your hands, watch your distance, and get vaccinated.”

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.
 

51 Hospitalized for COVID-19 – 31 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.:

COVID-19 Test Results: 197 New Cases of COVID-19
Today, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) reported one hundred ninety-seven (197) new cases of COVID-19 out of 1,548 tests performed on September 2. Eighty-two (82) cases were identified through contact tracing. To date there have been a total of 11,106 officially reported cases of COVID-19 with 151 deaths, 1,829 cases in active isolation and 9,126 not in active isolation. The CAR Score is 46.8.

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. 

Individuals waiting for COVID-19 test results must quarantine at home until cleared by DPHSS. Individuals whose test results are positive and who are at high risk for serious illness will be given information on outpatient monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19.

Monoclonal Antibody Treatment: REGEN-COV
Monoclonal antibody treatment is now available for those who test positive and are deemed eligible and referred by a provider. Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic your immune system’s ability to fight off harmful viruses. Casirivimab + imdevimab are monoclonal antibodies that are specifically designed to protect against the spike protein of the coronavirus. These proteins are designed to stop the virus from entering the human cells and may prevent hospitalizations by 70%. 

In November 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization to allow the use of monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients. To receive the treatment you must have a positive COVID-19 test AND be referred by your doctor. Referrals may be given if the candidate is: 

• Age 65 or older and weigh at least 80 lbs. or more; or
• Told by your doctor that you are at high risk of a serious case of COVID-19; or
• Age 12 or older and weigh at least 80 lbs. or more AND has any of the following: 
  • chronic kidney disease
  • heart or lung disease
  • BMI of 25 or greater
  • pregnancy
  • diabetes
  • immunosuppressive disease

Monoclonal antibody treatment is not intended as a replacement for getting vaccinated. These medications are NOT approved for use in patents who are hospitalized due to COVID-19 or require oxygen therapy. Benefits of treatment have not been observed in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19. Monoclonal antibodies may be associated with worse clinical outcomes when given to patients with COVID-19 requiring oxygen ventilation.

Ways to receive mAb:

1. Via the Tiyan testing site. If you test positive for COVID-19 and are deemed eligible, a referral will be made on-site and you may proceed to treatment. 
2. Via your private doctor. If you test positive for COVID-19 and are deemed eligible, your doctor will coordinate for your referral to receive treatment.

(Note for Providers: Please call the REGEN-COV referral number at 777-1597 to refer your patients)

Ten GDOE Students, Three Employees Test Positive for COVID-19
Today, the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) confirmed ten (10) positive cases for COVID-19 involving students, and three (3) positive cases involving employees. Student cases were identified at Adacao Elementary School, Astumbo Elementary School, Daniel L. Perez Elementary School, Maria A. Ulloa Elementary School, Wettengel Elementary School, and John F. Kennedy High School. Two separate cases were identified at Harry S. Truman and two separate cases were identified at Liguan Elementary School. Employee cases were identified at Daniel L. Perez, Liguan Elementary School, and John F. Kennedy 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.

COVID-19 Vaccination Schedule 
In addition to the Micronesia Mall COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Friday and Saturday this week, the University of Guam Field House will open on Saturday, September 4 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Beginning next week, the COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Micronesia Mall will only operate on Thursdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the University of Guam Field House will operate Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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

Last Day to Pick Up SNAP P-EBT Cards
DPHSS, in collaboration with GDOE, will be issuing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) cards at the Micronesia Mall Center Court on Saturday, September 4 from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. This is the last day of distribution for SNAP P-EBT cards. Parents are encouraged to pick up P-EBT cards for their children.

P-EBT Card Distribution Requirements:   

• 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.
• Walk-ins are accepted.

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

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.

Guam COVID-19 Vaccination Update
As of September 2, 362 additional residents received their first dose in a two-dose series, 94 residents received their dose in the single-dose series and an additional 289 residents have become fully vaccinated. To date, a total of 110,230 (80.88%) of Guam’s eligible population (residents 12 years and older) is fully vaccinated. This percentage includes 8,979 fully vaccinated residents between the ages of 12 – 17, as well as Guam's fully vaccinated adult population of 101,251. 

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.