Across the country, a large percentage of deaths from COVID-19 have been in nursing homes.  In Hawaii, the State Department of Health has confirmed that only 2 patients in nursing homes are known to have contracted COVID-19 — one on Maui who got the virus at Maui Memorial Medical Center, and one on O’ahu at the Hale Nani Rehabilitation and Nursing Center just a few days ago.  But on Wednesday morning, June 17, Hawaii News Now is reporting that the facility has confirmed that 3 additional residents now have the virus.  All the residents are in one unit, the same unit where a worker at Hale Nani had tested positive.

To prevent the spread of the virus in nursing homes, the State Department of Health ordered senior facilities to restrict outside visitors, including family members of residents.  In order to help families still have face-to-face communication with their loved ones, the DOH is providing 23 skilled nursing facilities in the state with up to $3,000 each to get tablets or other devices so the residents and their families can have “face to face” meetings via video chat programs.

The money is provided as part of a grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Photo is Life Care Center of Kona.