U.S. Senator Brian Schatz  today announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has mobilized a team of infection control experts, nurses, and other health care professionals to provide immediate support and help contain a COVID-19 outbreak at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo.

As of Thursday afternoon, 64 out of 74 residents of the facility had tested positive for COVID-19.  The first infections were thought to have come from two asymptomatic but COVID-positive staff members, and now, 24 staff members have also tested positive.

On Sept. 6, Schatz wrote to both VA Secretary Robert Wilke and Hawaii Gov. David Ige, saying it was critical to get assistance from the VA to try to get the situation under control.   Mayor Harry Kim has been vocal in several interviews saying he resented Schatz’ suggestion that more help was needed.  However, Kim did request assistance from the State, and said yesterday that a physician from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency on O’ahu is on island to help at the home.

According to Schatz, the VA plan:

• VA Subject Matter Experts will conduct an onsite assessment in the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo for infection control issues.
• The purpose is to formulate recommendations for interventions, processes, and procedures to address an outbreak of COVID-19.
• The VA team is expected to consist of: an infectious disease physician, a facilities engineer who understands environmental air flow and AC systems, an infectious disease nurse specialist with expertise in running COVID-19 units, a safety officer, an industrial hygienist, and a nurse manager.