JIC RELEASE NO. 834 - Two COVID-19-Related Fatalities Reported; COVID-19 Updates: 121 New Cases, 50 Hospitalized; DPHSS Issues COVID-19 Data Update Report; Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Treatment Continues; Food Commodities Distribution Continues

Two COVID-19-Related Fatalities Reported
The Joint Information Center (JIC) was notified of two (2) COVID-19-related fatalities:

• The 231st COVID-19-related fatality was pronounced dead on arrival at the Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) on October 27, 2021. The patient was a 41-year-old female, unvaccinated. She tested positive on October 27. 
• The 232nd COVID-19-related fatality occurred at GMH on October 27, 2021. The patient was a 57-year-old female, unvaccinated, with underlying health conditions. She tested positive on September 22. 

"The heartache from this kind of loss continues as the virus continues to make itself present, and to those who are in grief, Jeff, Josh, and I extend our deepest sympathies," said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. "To control the spread, our community is doing all it can to get vaccinated, but we cannot forget the basics: wear your mask around others outside of your household and practice social distancing.”

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.

50 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 18 vaccinated people hospitalized for COVID-19 compared to 210 unvaccinated people hospitalized for COVID- 19. The risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19 is about 12 times higher for the unvaccinated as compared to the vaccinated.

Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Treatment Continues
The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS), in partnership with the Mayors’ Council of Guam and the Guam National Guard, continues to offer outpatient monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy at the Mangilao Senior Citizens Center in Mangilao. Patients may receive mAb therapy if they meet the eligibility criteria through a referral from their private physician, from a COVID-19 community test site, or from a hospital. 

A Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Pre-Screening Assessment has been developed to guide individuals who may be eligible for mAb treatment. CLICK HERE for more information. To schedule an appointment, call 671-998-4627 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 671-734-9203 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

COVID-19 Test Results: 121 New Cases of COVID-19
Today, DPHSS reported 121 new cases of COVID-19 out of 1,084 tests performed on October 26. 41 cases were identified through contact tracing. To date, there have been a total of 17,944 officially reported cases, 232 deaths, 2,057 cases in active isolation, and 15,655 not in active isolation. The CAR Score is 17.5.

DPHSS COVID-19 Data Update Report
Today, DPHSS Office of Epidemiology and Research and the COVID-19 Surveillance Unit issued an update on COVID-19 surge trends and cases among minors. According to the update report, under half of the cases under the age of 18 were exposed in the household, with less than 7% through the community. Among those under 18 years, one-half of the exposures are household exposures: 0-11 years (47%) and 12-17 (52%). To view the DPHSS COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Report, CLICK HERE.

For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (first two doses), the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial series:

• Anyone age 65 years and older
• Anyone age 18 years and older with underlying medical conditions
• Anyone 18 years and older with an elevated risk of COVID-19 exposure and transmission due to their occupation (e.g. healthcare workers, law enforcement, fire, K-12 teachers and support staff, university faculty, daycare employees, food and agriculture workers, manufacturing workers, USPS workers, corrections workers, public transit workers, grocery store workers) or institutional settings.

For individuals who received the Johnson and Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago. 

Food Commodities Distribution Continues
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 October 26, 357 additional residents received their first dose in a two-dose series, 20 residents received their dose in the single-dose series, and an additional 371 residents have become fully vaccinated. To date, a total of 123,455 (90.58%) of Guam’s eligible population (residents 12 years and older) is fully vaccinated. This percentage includes 12,052 fully vaccinated residents between the ages of 12 – 17, and 111,403 fully vaccinated adults. 9,095 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have been administered to eligible residents as either a booster or an additional dose. 1,439 doses of the Moderna vaccine have been administered as an additional dose to eligible residents.

Click here to view BOOSTER ELIGIBILITY