This week, Hawaii's governor announced he'll be repealing the state's mask mandate come March 25. That left many here on Guam wondering when we'd be seeing the same action.

The latest data revealed at today's Department of Public Health and Social Services briefing could shed light on why Guam is not quite out of the woods with COVID-19.

The island is now seeing 150 cases per day, along with the continued decrease of residents getting tested for the virus. Guam is now averaging 1,000 tests per day, with the test positivity rate remaining at 23%. Age groups are seeing a continued downward trend as well. Territorial Epidemiologist Dr. Ann Pobutsky detailed the latest findings.

"Symptomatic cases are running at about 45%," she said. "And all island-wide daily COVID hospitalizations, ICU's and deaths are continuing to decline."

With everything going down, Interim Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bob Leon Guerrero confirmed that even the monoclonal antibody treatment center for the virus is experiencing the same thing.

"We're getting less people at the hospitals, less people at the Mangilao Senior Citizens Center getting treatments for, although I still recommend that if you're, as Dr. Pobutsky was saying, if you're above 60 and especially if you have health problems, if you do have COVID, I would talk to your doctor, call up the mAb clinic and see if you should be coming in, getting the treatment to try to prevent serious complications from COVID."

As reported last week, if the island has 200 or more new cases per 100,000 population over the past seven days we are categorized as being in the high transmission category and if it goes below 200 per 100,000 population, we then move to the low-risk category. Lead Epidemiologist Dr. Annette David compared Guam's COVID status to that of Hawaii and shared why we aren't in the clear just yet.

"Hawaii has 12 per 100,000, Guam has 107 per 100,000, so nearly 10 times higher," she said. "Our test positivity rate, Hawaii 2.3%, Guam has 23%."

Just like the number of cases per 100,000, Guam's test positivity rate is 10 times higher than that of Hawaii. As for the new cases over the past seven days per 100,000, the island is at 644, while Hawaii is at 70. And with the beds occupied by COVID patients at the hospital, Guam is at 9% and Hawaii only sees 1%. The island still has a ways to go to fully get out of this surge.

According to Public Health, one way to achieve this is to get vaccinated or boosted if you haven't done so and continue to remain vigilant to avoid catching the virus. Practicing the 3 W's is still highly recommended, as well as continued mask use.