Kona Community Hospital has confirmed that two incoming “traveling” employees, i.e. medical professionals who are not full time employees of the hospital but come in from outside the state, have tested positive for COVID-19.  According to Judy Donovan, spokesperson for the hospital, both were diagnosed with tests in advance of going to work and are now in quarantine.  Both were asymptomatic.

Neither is a resident of the state, but were given an exemption from the normal mandatory 14-day quarantine because they are considered essential medical workers.

“Our policy to test all incoming traveling employees in advance of working at KCH helps prevent
potential exposures within the hospital.” said Interim Chief Nurse Officer Stephanie Irwin, RN, MSN.

Kona Hospital has mandatory pre-employment testing prior to anybody starting work at the hospital.  Neither of the two employees entered the hospital or clinical areas at any time during the pre-employment process, according to Donovan.  They also request that the “travelers” arrive on island at least a day early to ensure they get tested for COVID-19 with enough time to get the result before the “traveler” begins work.

Kona Community Hospital does daily temperature checks and monitoring of all staff for signs and symptoms of the virus, and provides COVID-19 testing when appropriate.