Guam posts 7th COVID-19 death

A day after Guam recorded its highest number of COVID-19 cases in one day, with 105 people testing positive, and two days after its sixth COVID-19 death, the island posted its seventh COVID-19 death last Aug. 21—a 34-year-old male with underlying health conditions.

According to Guam’s Joint Information Center, the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority notified the JIC around 7:03pm last Aug. 21 that the latest fatality had an underlying health condition that was made worse by COVID-19 and was on a ventilator at GMHA for almost a month.

At 34 years old, he is Guam’s youngest COVID-19 death to date. The victim had traveled to Guam from Hawaii.

Last Aug. 20, Guam’s sixth COVID-19 death was a 70-year-old male who was pronounced dead on arrival around 5:14am, and was not a known COVID-19 case. Nonetheless, he was swabbed at GMHA and results came back positive.

In a video message. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero extended her deepest condolences and sympathies. “COVID-19 has already taken so much from us in such a short period of time. Tonight, tell your family you love them and reach out to those close to your heart. As we mourn every life we have lost to this virus, our fight will continue,” said Leon Guerrero.

Based on the latest JIC advisory, a total of 53 persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, Aug. 23, 2020, as of 10am. To date, there have been a total of 820 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Guam, with seven deaths, 394 not in isolation, and 419 cases in active isolation. Of those cases, 687 are classified as civilians and 133 are military service members.

For updated information on COVID-19 cases on Guam, visit the COVID-19 Dashboard and Situation Report at http://dphss.guam.gov/covid-19/. 

The JIC also reported that Guam is now under a weeklong lockdown, which started last Aug. 21 at 12pm, and will continue through Aug. 28 at 12pm. The executive order stated that the government of Guam will be temporarily closed, as well as all business that aren’t considered critical. Also, beaches and parks will not be open to the public and is closed to all activities.

“For those feeling anxious, stressed, overwhelmed or are needing to talk to someone, GBHWC has licensed experienced providers available, ready to assist the community with any heightened stress and anxiety experienced as a result of COVID-19,” said JIC.