JIC RELEASE NO. 998 - COVID-19 Test Results: 84 New Cases, 15 Hospitalized; Summer P-EBT SNAP Benefits for School-Aged Children and Children Below 6

COVID-19 Test Results: 84 New Cases

Today, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) reported 84 new cases of COVID-19 from 565 specimens analyzed on March 21, 2022. 13 of the cases reported today are through the Department of Defense. To date, there have been a total of 46,893 officially reported cases, 340 deaths, 1,255 cases in active isolation, and 45,298 not in active isolation.

15 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 8 vaccinated people hospitalized for COVID-19 compared to 68 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. *Estimated population is based on DPHSS Immunization Program analysis of 2020 Census data. Updates are expected pending further Census 2020 data breakdown.

Summer P-EBT SNAP Benefits for School-Aged Children and Children Below 6 

DPHSS in collaboration with the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) launched the Summer Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer or P-EBT. This supplemental benefit is federally funded and offered through the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). GDOE provided DPHSS a listing of Parents/Guardian with identified eligible children for P-EBT benefits for school year August 2020 – July 31, 2021. 

The criteria for eligible school-aged children follows:

• Identified eligible school-aged children approved on the P-EBT Plan for SY2020-2021, to include students enrolled and/or newly eligible prior to the end of SY2020-2021 for both GDOE public schools and DoDEA schools.

• GDOE District (public schools) that operated under the Community Eligibility Provisions whereby all students were provided school meals at no cost.

• DoDEA District school meal applications for SY2020-2021 that identified student’s eligible Free or Reduced-Price school meals, and students that were directly certified in SNAP households.

The criteria for Children under age 6 follows:

• Children are eligible for Summer SNAP 2021 P-EBT benefit if they are under age 6 and enrolled in SNAP during one of the summer months (May 2021-August 2021).

  • Enrollment in a childcare program at the end of the last school year or during the summer is not a requirement if the child is under age 6.

  • Households must be eligible under SNAP during the summer months (May 2021-August 2021).

The following will be posted on the DPHSS website:

1. P-EBT Issuance Form - Parents have the option to download, print, and complete the Issuance Form to bring to the distribution site. The form will also be available on-site.

2. Questions & Answers (Q&A) – Information sheet with questions and answers regarding eligibility, benefits, P-EBT Card Distribution, and the use of the P-EBT Cards.

3. P-EBT Card Brochure – Includes information on how to use the P-EBT Card, how to set up your PIN, and what is allowed to be purchased with P-EBT, etc.

For information, contact the P-EBT Call Center, Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.:

• (671) 735-7344/7256/7267/7321

• (671) 300-8853/8867/8870/8871

• or send a text message to (671) 488-6839

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prohibits the release of any student/family information over the telephone. Therefore, telephone inquiries regarding student information will not be entertained.

P-EBT CARD DISTRIBUTION FOR NEWLY ENROLLED STUDENTS AND CHILDREN (both conditions required):

1.   You must register at tinyurl.com/summerpebtguam (also listed on the table below)

2.   You must bring a valid picture ID such as a Driver’s License, Guam ID, military ID or Passport. Photocopies of IDs are not allowed.

3.   NO CARD WILL BE ISSUED if you are not the registered parent/guardian.

4.   NO CARD WILL BE ISSUED at the distribution site to parents/guardians of children under the legal custody or auspices of Child Protective Services (CPS). SNAP will directly coordinate with CPS regarding eligible students or children card distribution.

5. In the event the parent’s or guardian’s name is not listed for whatever reason, a DPHSS Student Verification of Enrollment Form will be issued at the distribution site or a parent/guardian can obtain a Student Verification from the child’s respective school. GDOE staff at your child’s school will complete the document and validate whether or not you are the parent/guardian. You then return to the Trouble Shooting Table at the distribution site with the document signed by the authorized GDOE staff.

IF YOU WERE ISSUED A P-EBT CARD LAST FALL (Between August 2021 and September 2021):  

• You do not have to register, the card(s) issued to you are still valid.

• If you misplaced or lost your card(s), please visit the RAN-Care Building in Tamuning (2nd Floor Issuance window); Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding government holidays).

• Please bring a valid picture ID (photocopies are not accepted).

Below are the dates, time and location for P-EBT Cards distribution:

Other opportunities will be provided at a later date for those unable to pick up their P-EBT cards. 

SNAP benefits will be loaded on April 8, 2022 after 7:00 p.m. Therefore, the P-EBT Card can only be used once the benefits are loaded. Benefits are valid for one year.

Mangilao mAb Treatment Center 

Monoclonal antibody therapy (mAb) treatment is available at the mAb Treatment Center at the Mangilao Senior Citizens Center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m Monday through Saturday. Patients must receive a referral from a physician to qualify for treatment at this center. To schedule an appointment, call (671) 998-4627, within 10 days of when symptoms started for best results.

Guam COVID-19 Vaccination Update

As of March 21, 2022, a total of 135,757 of Guam’s eligible population (residents 5 years and older) is fully vaccinated. This total includes 13,800 residents 12 – 17 years old. 7,702 residents 5 – 11 years old received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech two dose series. 5,968 residents 5 – 11 years old have completed their two-dose series. An additional 101 residents received their booster shots and a total of 56,617  booster shots have been administered to eligible residents since September 29, 2021.