JIC RELEASE NO. 1167 - FREE COVID-19 Testing at The Agana Shopping Center Ends on Friday, March 10; Cumulative COVID-19 Test Results: 36 New Cases Reported Feb. 28 - Mar. 7; Two Hospitalized; COVID-19-related Fatalities Adjusted; Additional COVID-19 Updat

FREE COVID-19 Testing at The Agana Shopping Center Ends on Friday, March 10
Residents who are not experiencing COVID-like symptoms, may seek free COVID-19 testing at The Agana Shopping Center, Suite 223, on Route 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m,  this week through Friday. Last day DPHSS will offer free travel and community testing will be this Friday, March 10. For travel testing, residents may call their private clinics or Northern Region Community Health Center to schedule. 

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:

For more information, CLICK HERE or visit dphss.guam.gov/covid-19-testing/

Cumulative COVID-19 Test Results: 36 New Cases Reported February 28 – March 7 

Today, DPHSS reported 36 new cases of COVID-19 from 805 specimens analyzed from tests administered February 27 - March 6, 2023:

• March 7: 10 of 118 test positive for COVID-19

• March 6: 3 of 20 test positive for COVID-19

• March 5: 1 of 20 tests positive for COVID-19

• March 4: 2 of 171 test positive for COVID-19

• March 3: 1 of 88 tests positive for COVID-19

• March 2: 4 of 100 test positive for COVID-19

• March 1: 8 of 143 test positive for COVID-19

• February 28: 7 of 145 test positive for COVID-19

To date, there have been a total of 60,018 officially reported cases, 415 deaths, 30 cases in active isolation, and 60,573 not in active isolation.

Two Hospitalized for COVID-19

COVID-19-related Fatalities Adjusted to 415

After a review of all possible COVID-19-related fatalities, five previously and initially counted were determined not to be COVID-19-related. The COVID-19-related fatality count has been adjusted to 415. 

7 Cases with Variants of Concern Identified

On March 2, 2023, DPHSS received seven new results from virus samples collected on Guam on Feb. 4 to Feb. 27, 2023, which have undergone genome sequencing by the Guam Public Health Laboratory (GPHL). Of the seven samples, seven were identified as the Omicron Variant of Concern (VOC). The breakdown is as follows:

           7 Omicron (VOC)

• 4 BQ.1.3

• 2 XBB.1.5

• 1 XBB.1.9.1

To date, 1,041 SARS-CoV-2 virus samples have undergone genomic sequencing. Of the 1,041 samples, 1,029 samples were shipped and 12 samples were sequenced by GPHL, 10 were rejected by the Department of Health Hawaii State Laboratory Division, 900 were sequenced, 81 were inconclusive, and 50 samples are pending results. To date, 846 VOCs have been detected.

Treating COVID-19 with Oral Medications Available by Prescription
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 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 either a current home test showing your positive test result for a COVID-19 infection or 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.

Get Rapid Test Kits Through USPS, Insurance
Every home in the U.S. can order four free at-home tests using COVIDtests.gov or 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489), while supplies last. USPS distributes free at-home COVID-19 tests, including tests that come with accessibility options for people who are blind or have low vision. These more accessible tests work with a smartphone app to provide audio instructions and audio test results. Place your order for more accessible free tests online or by calling 1-800-232-0233.

Most people with a health plan can get an at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 test from a pharmacy. Check your health insurance for more information. As long as the test kit is authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), many insurance plans will cover the cost or reimburse you.
 

Private Sector Organizations and Clinics Reserve Right to Continue Use of Face Masks
DPHSS Guidance Memo 2022-12 issued on May 2, 2022 rescinded the order to require people to mask up in public settings. Although Guam’s public health emergency was lifted by Executive Order 2023-01 on Jan. 6, 2023, private establishments, clinics, and hospitals reserve their right to continue the use of face masks.

All people are encouraged to continue to consider CDC guidance and use. The CDC recommends indoor masking for all only in communities deemed to be at high risk for COVID-19 based on hospitalizations, local hospital capacity, and new infections. As of March 2, 2023, Guam’s COVID Community Level Risk is low. 

Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines and Boosters Available
Infants 6 months and older are eligible to receive the Moderna COVID-19 bivalent booster at all DPHSS vaccination clinics. 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.

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 all DPHSS vaccination clinics at The Agana Shopping Center, NRCHC, SRCHC, and our extended outreach vaccination events.
 

Incentives Offered for COVID-19 Vaccination Series Completion and Bivalent Boosters

A CDC grant awarded to DPHSS titled “Guam's Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities (HDG)” is providing incentives to individuals who are completing their last dose in the primary series OR receiving their Bivalent Booster. Eligible residents will be offered a $20 gift certificate (alcohol and tobacco items excluded), while supplies last. Gift certificates will be offered at all DPHSS vaccination sites, while supplies last.

Worksite Vaccinations Available Through DPHSS Health Disparities Grant Program 

Organizations that would like to arrange COVID-19 vaccination at the worksite, the DPHSS Mobile Outreach Team is available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday, excluding observed Government of Guam holidays. To schedule, please call 671-797-6059.

COVID-19 Vaccinations Available for Homebound Individuals by Calling 311, Option 2 

For persons with disabilities and senior citizens, call 311 option 2 for information on vaccination sites and hours, and to arrange in-home vaccinations for homebound individuals.

Bivalent Boosters Available at DPHSS Vaccination Clinics

On October 12, 2022, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended the use of new bivalent formulations of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines as a booster dose.

A single booster dose of bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine or bivalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine may be given at least 2 months after completion of a monovalent primary series or any prior monovalent booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine. People must first complete at least a primary series with the original monovalent vaccine before receiving a single bivalent booster at least 2 months later.

• People may receive either brand of bivalent vaccine that is age-appropriate; there is no preference and no need to match the brand of the primary series.

• This recommendation is for a one-time booster. ACIP does not anticipate recommendations for frequent (e.g., every few months) booster doses of bivalent vaccine.  

• COVID-19 vaccines may be co-administered with all other routinely recommended vaccines, including influenza vaccine.

The updated Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna bivalent boosters are available at the DPHSS vaccination clinics. 

COVID-19 Vaccines for Children 6 Months and Older Available at all DPHSS Vaccination Clinics

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 March 3, 2023

As of March 3, 2023, 141,143 eligible residents (6 months and older) are fully vaccinated. This total includes 14,401 residents 12 – 17 years old. 9,439 residents 5 – 11 years old received their first dose of a two dose series. 7,781 residents 5 – 11 years old have completed their two-dose series. 402 residents 6 months – 5 years old have received their first dose of a two dose series. 82,976 eligible residents have received their first booster shots. 15,049 eligible residents have received their second booster shots.