Hilo Medical Center reports that 4 deaths from COVID-19 have occurred at the Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home in the last 24 hours.  The total death toll on the island from COVID-19 is now 24.  Seventeen patients with COVID-19 are at Hilo Medical Center, isolated from other patients.  Four of those in the hospital are from the Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home.

Senator Brian Schatz had asked the Veterans Administration to assist, and the VA has performed an investigation and now has a reported 19 personnel on site to assist.

Below is the Hilo Medical Center update:

HILO MEDICAL CENTER UPDATE (as of 3:00 pm on Saturday, September 19, 2020)

• 17 total COVID-positive patients are hospitalized: 6 in ICU, 10 in COVID Unit, 1 in Extended Care Facility

o   The second round of COVID tests for Extended Care Facility staff and residents came back negative. Follow-up testing to be conducted next week Monday.

o   Admissions to our Extended Care Facility remain paused until the situation is resolved.

o   Hilo Medical Center is optimistic in managing COVID in the hospital and its long term care facility.

• 2 total deaths have occurred in the hospital on September 8 and 18.

 

YUKIO OKUTSU STATE VETERANS HOME UPDATE (as of 3:00 pm on Saturday, September 19, 2020, reported by Avalon Healthcare, the veterans home’s managing company)

• 55 residents are currently at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home
• 24 residents are receiving care in the home’s COVID designated area
• 4 residents are hospitalized at Hilo Medical Center
• 22 total resident deaths related to COVID-19 have occurred. We offer our deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones.

o   4 deaths to report today related to COVID-19 at the veterans home within the last 24 hours.

• 19 residents and 7 employees have recovered
• A total of 69 residents and 30 employees have tested positive for COVID-19 in this outbreak
• For additional information, go to: https://ahcupdates.info/hilo-covid19-update

 

CHECK OUT: East Hawaii Region Fact Sheet on testing, beds, ventilators, and PPE resources (as of Friday, September 11)

 

• Hilo Medical Center: Patients hospitalized with COVID-19: 17
• 24 total deaths related to COVID-19 have occurred – 22 from the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home and 2 unrelated to the veterans home.
• WATCH: Past virtual CEO town halls on our Hilo Medical Center YouTube Channel.