Welcome to The Husk’s Friday edition, Weekender.

3

…things from Guam

• Guam Whatsapp groups this week were abuzz with the story of Sian Proctor, one of the four people chosen to be among the first civilians launched into space. Proctor was born on Guam. This isn’t quite new-new but the recent release of the Netflix series led to a renewed interest and the clip of Proctor recalling her birthplace making the Whatsapp rounds.

• How to pronounce names of Guam villages that recently officially changed names in line with CHamoru orthography.

• You can adopt these Guam strays.

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2

…things from Micronesia

• Here’s the latest about the former Attorney General killed in Yap. Rachelle Bergeron’s passing made international news in 2019.

• 91% of adults in Kosrae have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

1

…new phrase

The pandemic has broadened the lexicon of us regular-degular people over the past 18 months. This week's newest virus-related phrase, courtesy of the COVID conditions on Guam: silent hypoxia.

Guam doctors warned that people infected with COVID-19 might have abnormally low oxygen levels without feeling out of breath (hence the "silent"). This week, more people arrived at hospitals dead and positive for the virus. Warnings about silent hypoxia, plus a startling 9 COVID-19-related deaths in one day, preceded a spike in sales of pulse oximeters. Oximeters: The latest pandemic accessory.

According to NPR, on Sept. 16, Guam topped the list of highest risk jurisdictions in the nation for COVID-19 cases per capita.

We are still very much in pandemic mode, not yet endemic mode. This is a very good reason to stay home where I can safely devour the latest Trisha Paytas YouTube drama with a side of 90 Day Fiancé¹: The Other Way.

Thank you for reading. Have a wonderful weekend.

Cheers,

Jasmine²