Hilo Medical Center says as of today at 9:30 a.m., there are 19 patients in the facility with COVID-19, 6 of whom are in the Intensive Care Unit, and 13 in the COVID Unit.  Elena Cabatu, the hospital’s Director of Marketing and Public & Legislative Affairs, confirmed a total of 11 deaths from COVID-19, 10 of whom were residents at the Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home, and one other patient who also had underlying medical conditions.  The earliest death was August 29.  There have been no new deaths in the last two days.

In other HMC updates:

o   A patient who was COVID tested upon admission per hospital protocols and was determined negative, developed a fever and cough, and tested positive 11 days later.

o   The positive result was received at midnight on the morning of September 11.

o   Contract tracing began at 5:00 am on September 11 of patient’s roommates and staff of who cared for the patient.

o   The patient’s roommate was Rapid ID tested – test results were negative.

o   Contact tracing of the staff was completed by 11:00 am on September 11.

o   About 50 staff who interacted with the patient were assessed for exposure risk

o    21 staff and 1 physician were identified as meeting exposure criteria, were tested, and are at home quarantining.

• 20 of the 21 staff tested received negative results on the morning of September 12 with one pending.
• The remaining staff on the affected unit were tested on the morning of September 12.

o   Hospital visitation has been paused in an abundance of caution with the exception for one visitor for OB, pediatrics and end-of-life patients

o   The visitation will be assessed for restart early next week after all remaining test results are received.

Photo posted outside Hilo Medical Center

 

YUKIO OKUTSU STATE VETERANS HOME UPDATE (as of 4:30 pm on Friday, September 11, 2020, reported by Avalon Healthcare, the veterans home’s managing company)

• A total of 66 residents and 27 employees have tested positive for COVID-19
• 4 residents are hospitalized at Hilo Medical Center
• 35 total residents are cared for at the veterans home’s COVID designated area
• 17 residents and 5 employees have recovered
• NO deaths to report today.

o   10 total resident deaths related to COVID-19 have occurred. We offer our deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones.

• For additional information, go to: https://ahcupdates.info/hilo-covid19-update

Photo is Yukio Okutsu entrance.