Covid-19 is raging on Guam, with average new Covid-19 daily cases on Guam more than doubling over the past two weeks, according to NPR and the New York Times.
The U.S. Pacific island territory southwest of Hawaii is home to about 167,000 people, or about the same population size as Maui County.
But while Maui County reported 54 new cases Wednesday, Guam reported 325 new cases on the same day (Thursday on Guam due to the time difference). Guam has also documented more than twice as many Covid deaths than Maui County since the start of the pandemic.
NPR reported that Guam is now one of the top five highest-risk places in the U.S., along with Tennessee, South Carolina, Kentucky and Mississippi.
The New York Times reported that Guam suspended its vaccination program for tourists that was aimed at boosting the island’s visitor economy.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all travelers to Guam be fully vaccinated.
More than 81% of Guam residents aged 12 or older are fully vaccinated and 39 of the 75 patients hospitalized with Covid are vaccinated, the Guam Daily Post reported.
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About the Author
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Anita Hofschneider is a reporter for Civil Beat. You can reach her by email at anita@civilbeat.org or follow her on Twitter at @ahofschneider.