HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — Guam has been moved back into “high” community risk level for Covid-19, a reminder that the pandemic is not over, but Department of Public Health and Social Services officials on Thursday said the mask mandate and other restrictions remain shelved.
According to Dr. Robert “Bob” Leon Guerrero, DPHSS interim chief medical officer, and Covid-19 surveillance branch director Vince Campo, while Guam is in “high” community risk level, the increased hospital admissions are still “manageable.”
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero’s office said the same.
“We continue to stay the course. Again, the numbers to watch are our Covid hospitalizations which remain manageable,” according to the governor’s director of communications, Krystal Paco-San Agustin.
DPHSS, on its website, said the Guam’s Covid-19 community risk level is “high” and posted the following metrics:
Case rate per 100,000 population: 406.9 cases.
New Covid-19 admissions per 100,000 population: 10 admissions.
Percentage of staffed inpatient beds in use by patients with confirmed Covid-19 cases: 6%.
In areas of high risk such as Guam, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status. This risk status also means the health care system is at greater risk of being overwhelmed by the coronavirus.
Covid-19-related deaths are sporadic, while intensive care unit-level of care for patients remains low at one or two the past few days.
372nd fatality
One more Covid-19-related fatality was reported Thursday night by the Joint Information Center.
The 372nd Covid-19-related fatality was an 84-year-old female, fully vaccinated and boosted, with underlying health conditions. She tested positive May 22. She died June 22 at the Guam Regional Medical City.
“While we learn to live with this virus, it is important we stay vigilant. Please do not ignore Covid-19 symptoms. Should you experience symptoms, get tested and check your medical provider for available treatments. Continue to do your part to stop the spread, as we work together as a community to put this pandemic behind us,” the governor said in a statement extending her family and administration’s condolences to the family of the deceased.
The seven-day average daily cases surpassed the 100-mark, reaching at least 108 this week, Campo said.
JIC reported 129 new cases out of 1,325 tested Wednesday.
“We definitely see that the number of cases that are being reported is going up so if there’s anything to do right now, definitely wear your mask, watch your distance and wash your hands,” he said.
Hospitalizations
Hospitalizations reached 21 earlier this week after months of single-digit admissions. It was 14 as of Thursday.
Two patients require ICU care, and one is on a ventilator to help with breathing, the JIC reported.
Among those hospitalized, one is a pediatric patient.
Guam’s full vaccination level is 97%. Officials said this is a factor in the still relatively low hospitalization numbers despite the rising number of cases.
Masks recommended
Mandate or not, people still must wear masks to protect themselves and others from getting or spreading the virus, DPHSS’ Leon Guerrero said. Updated vaccination and staying home if one’s sick are also highly recommended.
“We started to learn how to live with Covid,” he said.
Many of the cases are linked to households and workplaces, Campo said.
There’s still no telling whether the 2022 election-related gatherings have been a factor, he said.
There are cases in which those who tested positive for Covid-19 did not want to disclose where they have been the past few days, or who they get in contact with, he said. This is a challenge for health investigators.
There’s an increase in testing among those about to travel; there is still more local testing.
Most cases remain asymptomatic. The 18 to 39 age bracket still drives up the case numbers.
But there’s been an increase in cases among those 60 and older.
At this point, DPHSS has yet to find out whether the increased Covid-19 cases is due to a new variant or a subvariant of the omicron.
DPHSS’ Leon Guerrero said they “suspect” it’s the omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 that are driving the current cases but they won’t know for sure until they receive the latest results of genome sequencing from off-island.
These are the same fast-spreading sub variants that, when combined, make up most of the cases in the United States right now.
Guam ordered and received an estimated $25,000 genome sequencing machine, that would determine the variant that’s already present on the island.
But it has still not been used.
Bob Leon Guerrero said the machine now just needs to be separated from the rest of the laboratory, so a wall needs to be built to make that happen.
Patrick Luces, DPHSS incident commander, said DPHSS is currently working with the Guam General Services Agency in putting out an invitation for a bid to build that wall.
While waiting for the machine to be operational, months after it arrived on Guam, DPHSS continues to send specimens to the CDC in Atlanta and to Hawaii.
A licensed practical nurse assesses equipment for vaccine and booster patients at the Northern Region Community Health Center in Dededo on June 30.
