JIC RELEASE NO. 1157 - Report Positive COVID-19 At-home Test Results to DPHSS; Cumulative COVID-19 Test Results: 167 New Cases Reported December 20–27; 11 Hospitalized; Additional COVID-19 Updates

Report Positive COVID-19 At-home Test Results to DPHSS

Report positive COVID-19 at-home and over the counter (OTC) test results to the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) via email: dphss.surveillance@dphss.guam.gov. You must report your positive result within 24 hours and provide the following information:

• Full Name    
• Date of Test
• Contact Number    
• Results
• Date of Birth    
• Test Manufacturer
   

If you test positive using an OTC test kit, you must isolate at home for five days after symptom onset or five days from test date if asymptomatic. Please read DPHSS Guidance Memo 2021-16 Rev. 4 – Section G: Duration of Isolation. While in isolation:

• Eat in a separate room or area; use a separate bedroom; use a separate bathroom. If sharing a bathroom, clean and disinfect after each use. 

• Avoid sharing personal items – dishes, cups/glasses, silverware, towels, bedding or electronics (e.g., cellphone).

• Wear a face mask.

• Wash your hands often using soap and water, or hand sanitizer; avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

• Clean and disinfect “high touch” surfaces and items every day (tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks, and electronics)

If at-home test result is negative, but you have symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19:

• You should get a confirmatory test as soon as possible to confirm your results

• You should isolate until you receive your confirmed laboratory test result.

• If you are symptomatic, advise your household members and other close contacts to stay home until you receive your confirmed laboratory test result.

• If your confirmed laboratory test result is positive, DPHSS’ containment unit or your clinic will notify you of your positive laboratory result.

• Close contacts should also get tested for COVID-19.

If at-home test result is negative and you have NO symptoms and have NOT been exposed to COVID-19: It is less likely that you have COVID-19. You may resume your daily activities while continuing to follow all public health advice.

Free COVID-19 Tests Available Again Through USPS

United States Postal Service (USPS) orders for free at-home COVID-19 tests are available again to every U.S. household. To order, visit www.covid.gov/tests

Find more information on free testing resources in the COVID.gov/tests "Other Testing Resources" section or by visiting dphss.guam.gov/covid-19. Residents with health insurance may avail of at-home tests by calling their pharmacy or health insurance company for more information.

Cumulative COVID-19 Test Results: 167 New Cases Reported December 20 – 27

Today, (DPHSS reported 167 new cases of COVID-19 from 1,060 specimens analyzed from tests administered December 19 – 26, 2022:

• December 27: 9 of 145 test positive for COVID-19

• December 26: 1 of 34 test positive for COVID-19

• December 25: 11 of 63 test positive for COVID-19

• December 24: 30 of 129 test positive for COVID-19

• December 23: 40 of 181 test positive for COVID-19

• December 22: 27 of 168 test positive for COVID-19

• December 21: 23 of 139 test positive for COVID-19

• December 20: 26 of 201 test positive for COVID-19

To date, there have been a total of 59,876 officially reported cases, 411 deaths, 56 cases in active isolation, and 59,409 not in active isolation.

11 Hospitalized for COVID-19

Treating COVID-19 with Oral Medications Available by Prescription
If you test positive and have underlying health conditions, you are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19. Oral treatments are available that can reduce your chances of being hospitalized or dying from the disease. Medications to treat COVID-19 must be prescribed by a healthcare provider and started as soon as possible after diagnosis to be effective. Don’t delay: Treatment must be started within days of when you first develop symptoms to be effective. Paxlovid and Molnupiravir remain effective treatments against currently circulating variants and emerging variants.

To receive the oral treatments, you must have a current laboratory confirmed COVID-19 infection and a referral from a prescribing physician. For more information, call 311 and select option 1 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on weekends and holidays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or call 671-998-4527 or 671-998-4547.

COVID-19 Testing Available at The Plaza Shopping Center

Residents who do not have COVID-like symptoms, may seek free COVID-19 testing at The Plaza Shopping Center in the Dusit Beach Resort from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m,  Monday through Saturday, except on observed Government of Guam holidays. Those who need ADA accommodations for curbside testing in their vehicles may call 671-998-4530. No symptoms are needed for COVID-19 testing at The Plaza Shopping Center. Additional COVID Testing sites are listed below: 

Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines and Boosters Available
Infants 6 months and older are eligible to receive the Moderna COVID-19 bivalent booster at the Guam Community Health Centers in Dededo and Inalåhan. DPHSS encourages residents of all ages to be up to date on their COVID-19 and flu vaccinations and boosters in order to protect their friends and family this holiday season.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting an omicron-specific (bivalent) booster, which targets the original strain of the coronavirus as well as more recently circulating variants (BA.4 and BA.5). The original vaccines, called monovalent vaccines, will no longer be available as booster doses. Only the Moderna COVID-19 bivalent booster is available to infants 6 months and older, who completed their Moderna primary series.

The Pfizer COVID-19 bivalent vaccine is recommended for individuals 6 months to 4 years of age as the third dose to complete the primary series, at least two months since the second shot in their primary series. A booster dose is not authorized for children in this age group who already completed the Pfizer 3-dose primary series. The Pfizer bivalent booster is also available to individuals 5 years of age or older, regardless of which vaccine was taken for their primary series or monovalent booster as long as it has been at least two months since they have completed their primary vaccination series or since they have received the monovalent COVID-19 booster dose.

The Moderna COVID-19  bivalent vaccine is recommended for individuals 6 months to 5 years if they received the Moderna monovalent vaccine as their primary series and it has been at least two months since the last dose in their primary series. The Moderna bivalent booster is also available to individuals 6 years of age or older, regardless of which vaccine was taken for their primary series or booster as long as it has been at least two months since they have completed their primary vaccination series or since they have received the monovalent COVID-19 booster dose.

The updated Pfizer BioNTech bivalent vaccine and Moderna bivalent boosters are available at the DPHSS vaccination clinics at The Plaza Shopping Center, NRCHC, SRCHC, and our extended outreach vaccination events.
 

COVID-19 Vaccines for Children 6 Months and Older Available at DPHSS CHCs

The Moderna and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccines are authorized for use in children from six months of age and older. In most children, the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children ages six months through five years will be a two-dose primary series with four to eight weeks between dose one and dose two. In most children, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages six months through four years will be a three-dose primary series three to eight weeks between dose one and dose two, and at least eight weeks between dose two and dose three. Requirements for minors to receive the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine at DPHSS vaccination clinics and outreach events:

• Parent/legal guardian must provide minor’s birth certificate

• Parent/legal guardian must have a government-issued photo identification

• Minor must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian

• Guardians must present legal guardianship or power-of-attorney documents

Guam COVID-19 Vaccination Update – As of December 22, 2022

As of December 22, 2022, 140,807 eligible residents (6 months and older) are fully vaccinated. This total includes 14,331 residents 12 – 17 years old. 9,324 residents 5 – 11 years old received their first dose of a two dose series. 7,682 residents 5 – 11 years old have completed their two-dose series. 333 residents 6 months – 5 years old have received their first dose of a two dose series. 82,912 eligible residents have received their first booster shots. 14,138 eligible residents have received their second booster shots.

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