At a press conference today, Lt. Gov. Josh Green, M.D. gave an update on the state’s COVID-19 situation, especially relative to hospital capacity.
Dr. Green said between February and June, the state had 900 cases. Green said May was especially quiet as people were staying home in response to the Governor’s “Stay at home” order. He said the July 4th weekend was the start of a serious surge, with July having 1200 cases. Since August 1, through today, Aug. 13, the state has added 2,108 cases.
Green said to date, our hospital capacity is sufficient. On the Big Island, one COVID-19 patient is hospitalized and in the Intensive Care Unit.
Around 11% of all cases of COVID-19 in the state end up in the hospital, and with today’s 2,558 total active cases (2,477 on O’ahu), he anticipates that around 275 people will end up in the hospital.
On August 1, there were 75 people in the hospital. Today, 13 days later, that has doubled, and there are 150 people in the hospital. He said there are patients other than COVID-19 patients who are in the ICU for things like heart attacks and strokes.
Statewide hospital statistics for ICU beds and ventilators:
- 137 out of 244 ICU beds in use (56%)
- Of the ICU beds in use, 29 are COVID-19 patients
- 73 out of 459 ventilators in use (16%)
- Of the ventilators in use, 22 are COVID-19 patients
Lt. Gov. Green said if you go into the hospital and have to be on a ventilator, you will struggle. So far, 40 people with COVID-19 have died, one of the most recent being a 44-year-old man. The virus takes people of all ages, even though most of the deaths have been in people 60 and older.