Kona Community Hospital (KCH) has received the final results of the hospital’s facility-wide COVID-19 testing on Thursday, July 16 at the hospital, as well as Saturday’s community test site set up for anybody who felt they had been exposed via Kona Community Hospital or its employees.    Kona Hospital previously announced that 545 out of 548 tests of employees and contractors were negative.  Of the three outstanding results, two were negative and one positive.

 

Overall testing results: Total tests conducted:	548
Results back at present:	548
Negative results:	547
Positive results:	1*

The hospital says the single positive test result is in a health care provider from out of state who previously had COVID-19 in April, but had recovered and was symptom-free for more than the required 10-day period. This worker was cleared for work by the Hawaii Department of Health.

In a press conference on Monday, State Department of Health Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park was asked how that health care provider could be allowed to continue to treat patients, after having a COVID-19 positive test four days ago.  Her response:

“That particular case and others continue to be investigated.  There are still lots of questions about this virus.  We know that people who are infected can be shedding viral material for months, up to three months.  Each case needs to be investigated.  We contact trace, we determine whether it is a situation we need to be concerned about.”

“Testing will continue through at least Friday, July 24.” said Interim Chief Nurse, Stephanie Irwin. “We’re very happy with the initial testing results. But, to account for an incubation period, we have more testing to do to assure staff and the community that the hospital is COVID-free.”

The COVID-19 Joint Information Center, the state’s central  spot for inquiries  about COVID-19, had this to say about the cases at Kona Hospital, which include the 3 initial employees with COVID-19, one community member who took her child to the Emergency Department for a broken arm, and now this one medical professional:  Based on DOH’s ongoing investigation, it does not appear that Kona Community Hospital (KCH) has a true cluster—i.e., reported positives are not linked to each other and have other exposures outside the hospital to explain their infection.

KCH and the Premier Medical Group Hawaii plan to conduct three additional on-site testing clinics.

Additional testing, which is the gold standard for detection, will be conducted on the following dates:

• Day 4 – July 20: Retested all staff providing direct patient care as they are considered high risk. Results outstanding.
• Day 8 – July 24: All KCH personnel, affiliated staff, providers and contractors are tested again.
• Day 14 – July 30: Depends on what the Day 8 results show us.

The community testing clinic Saturday at West Hawaii Civic Center tested 108 people.  All results are negative.