The island has lost two more residents of the Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home in Hilo to COVID-19.  That brings the number of residents of the home who have passed from COVID-19 to 12.   One person on the island not affiliated with the Veterans Home passed away last week, so the island’s total loss of life because of COVID-19 to 13.

There are 18 COVID-positive patients in Hilo Medical Center, 6 in the ICU and 12 in the COVID Unit.

The Hilo Medical Center spokesperson, Elena Cabatu, provided the following update:

HILO MEDICAL CENTER UPDATE (as of 4:00 pm on Sunday, September 13, 2020)

• 18 total COVID-positive patients are hospitalized: 6 in ICU, 12 in COVID Unit

o   All staff who interacted with a COVID-positive patient were tested and are negative for COVID.

o   On September 11-12, 154 employees were tested as a part of the hospital’s ongoing efforts of focused surveillance testing. All results came back negative.

• 1 death related to COVID-19 occurred at the hospital on Tuesday, September 8. This death is unrelated to Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home.

 

YUKIO OKUTSU STATE VETERANS HOME UPDATE (as of 4:00 pm on Sunday, September 13, 2020, reported by Avalon Healthcare, the veterans home’s managing company)

• A total of 66 residents and 28 employees have tested positive for COVID-19
• 4 residents are hospitalized at Hilo Medical Center
• 33 total residents are cared for at the veterans home’s COVID designated area
• 17 residents and 5 employees have recovered
• 2 deaths to report today related to COVID-19 at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home.

o   12 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

On Saturday, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz called on Avalon Healthcare to review its infection control and COVID-19 precautions at all three care homes which it operates in the state.  Later the same day, Mayor Harry Kim said he wants Avalon Healthcare removed as the Veterans Home administrator.

Saturday night, Allison Griffiths, Vice President of Legal for Avalon Health Care, sent an email that said neither the State VA nor the Federal VA has asked or recommended that the facility administration step down. Griffiths shared the company’s official statement:

“We continue to work closely with representatives from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and state and local health officials, who have applicable expertise to bring to bear as we work together to save lives. Our residents are our one and only priority. We do not have the luxury of time to engage in any fights other than beating this virus. That is where our focus will remain.”