Kona Community Hospital (KCH) has confirmed that a patient has tested positive for COVID-19. The patient, a resident with no history of travel, was admitted on Wednesday.

The adult patient, who is in stable condition, is the first COVID-19 patient to be admitted to KCH.

“Kona Community Hospital has been actively preparing with our federal, state, and county partners to respond to a confirmed novel coronavirus case since February,” said Infection Prevention and Employee Health Director, Lisa Downing, RN. “Our top priority is maintaining the health and safety of our staff and patients.

The Hawaii State Department of Health’s on-call virologist was consulted and supports the hospital’s care management of this patient which includes precautions to protect patients and staff.

KCH is following their COVID-19 emergency management playbook:

 Minimizing number of employees who enter the patient’s room.
 Following precautions defined by CDC that include standard, contact, airborne and eye
protection.
 Patient is in an airborne isolation room.

The hospital’s House Supervisor, Emergency Department and Medical Unit leadership and staff were all briefed upon notification of the positive test. All precautions were reviewed with the Infection Prevention Director and the Incident Command Team Leader.

Last week, State Health Director Dr. Bruce Anderson confirmed multiple times in media briefings that one of the victims of the McDonald’s COVID-19 cluster had been flown to O’ahu for hospitalization.