JIC RELEASE NO. 841 - Three COVID-19-Related Fatalities Reported; COVID-19 Updates: Cumulative Test Results: 89 New Cases, 47 Hospitalized; DPHSS Prepares for Expansion of COVID-19 Vaccines to Children Ages 5 to 11; Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Treatment C

Three COVID-19-Related Fatalities Reported
The Joint Information Center (JIC) was notified of three (3) COVID-19-related fatalities.

• The 243rd COVID-19-related fatality was pronounced dead on arrival at the U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) Guam on November 1, 2021. The patient was a 42-year-old female, vaccinated, with underlying health conditions. She tested positive on November 1, 2021. 
• The 244th COVID-19-related fatality occurred at the Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) on November 2, 2021. The patient was a 63-year-old male, partially vaccinated, with underlying health conditions. He tested positive on October 25, 2021. 
• The 245th COVID-19-related fatality occurred at GMH on November 3, 2021. The patient was a 58-year-old male, vaccinated, with underlying health conditions. He tested positive on October 4, 2021. 

“A loved one’s death is a difficult time for us all and for those of us who have lost a loved one to this virus, you know how much more painful it is to lose them in a pandemic. To the families and friends of our most recent losses, Jeff, Josh, and I pour our hearts out to you,” said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. “We will not forget the special people we have lost and to honor their memory, we must not allow ourselves to forgo our personal responsibility in this fight.”

47 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 20 vaccinated people hospitalized for COVID-19 compared to 170 unvaccinated people hospitalized for COVID- 19. The risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19 is about 9 times higher for the unvaccinated as compared to the vaccinated.

DPHSS Prepares for Expansion of COVID-19 Vaccines to Children Ages 5 to 11
Today, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expanded vaccine recommendations to children 5 to 11 years old. The expansion is based on a CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation that children in this age group be vaccinated against COVID-19 with the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric vaccine. According to the CDC, COVID-19 infections in children can result in hospitalizations, deaths, multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), and long-term complications, such as “long COVID,” in which symptoms can linger for months.

The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) Guam Immunization Program in the third week of October placed an order of 7,500 pediatric doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Shipments of those vaccines are scheduled to begin this week and are expected to arrive next week.

Meanwhile, meetings and discussions are underway with key stakeholders, including the Guam Department of Education (GDOE), Catholic schools, private and Charter schools to plan for school-based immunization of the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine. DPHSS has been in communications with enrolled providers to plan for expansion of vaccinations to pediatric populations.

Cumulative COVID-19 Test Results: 89 New Cases of COVID-19 from November 2 – 3
Today, DPHSS reported 42 new cases of COVID-19 out of 843 tests performed on November 2. 12 cases were identified through contact tracing.

An additional 47 cases were also reported today as a result of complete analysis and case submissions from other clinics for preliminary COVID-19 test results reported November 2. Official case counts for yesterday’s results are as follows:

• November 2: 82 of 1,209 test positive for COVID-19 (35 cases previously reported). 22 cases were identified through contact tracing.   

 To date, there have been a total of 18,410 officially reported cases, 245 deaths, 2,431 cases in active isolation, and 15,734 not in active isolation. The CAR Score is 10.3.

Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Treatment Continues
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, a COVID-19 community test site, or a hospital. A Pre-Screening Assessment has been developed to guide individuals who may be eligible for mAb treatment. 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. For more information, 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 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 November 2, a total of 123,934 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 111,882 fully vaccinated adults. 10,708 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, 3,451 doses of the Moderna and 85 doses of the Johnson and Johnson/Janssen vaccine have been administered as boosters to eligible residents.