Hilo Medical Center Director of Marketing and Public & Legislative Affairs Elena Cabatu has reported one additional death at Yukio Okutsu Veterans Center as of mid afternoon today, Sunday.  There are 18 COVID-19 patients at Hilo Medical Center, with 5 in the Intensive Care Unit, 12 in the COVID Unit, and one in the Extended Care Facility.  All are isolated from others.  The Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home has 18 of its residents with COVID-19 isolated in a separate COVID Unit, and 6 of its residents are in Hilo Medical Center.

The island has had a total of 25 deaths from COVID-19, with 23 related to the Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home.

Earlier today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz commented on the report from the Veterans Affairs that that details serious infection control issues that contributed to the deadly COVID-19 outbreak at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home.  Schatz had called for the VA to step in and investigate, and provide assistance, after the COVID-19 outbreak at the Veterans Home started to grow.  Today Schatz said “This report makes clear that Avalon did not take the steps necessary to protect its residents and staff. We have known all along that nursing homes and their residents were particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, so it is infuriating to see that basic infection control practices were not in place months after the pandemic began. Avalon must take immediate action to address the recommendations of this report to ensure the safety of the veterans and staff at the State Veterans Home.  My staff and I will continue to closely monitor this outbreak and help provide any additional federal resources that are available.””

A 19-person team from the VA is reportedly now working at the Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home to assist.

HILO MEDICAL CENTER UPDATE (as of 3:00 pm on Sunday, September 20, 2020)

·         18 total COVID-positive patients are hospitalized: 5 in ICU, 12 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 tomorrow, Monday, September 21, 2020.

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 Sunday, September 20, 2020, reported by Avalon Healthcare<https://ahcupdates.info/hilo-covid19-update/>, the veterans home’s managing company)

·         52 residents are currently at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home

·         18 residents are receiving care in the home’s COVID designated area

·         6 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   1 death to report today related to COVID-19 at the veterans home wiin the last 24 hours.

·         23 residents and 7 employees have recovered

·         A total of 69 residents and 32 employees have tested positive for COVID-19 in this outbreak

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

CHECK OUT: East Hawaii Region Fact Sheet<https://www.hilomedicalcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/COVID-19-EHR-Fact-Sheet-FINAL.pdf> on testing, beds, ventilators, and PPE resources (as of Friday, September 18)

·         Hilo Medical Center: Patients hospitalized with COVID-19: 18

·         25 total deaths related to COVID-19 have occurred – 23 from the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home and 2 unrelated to the veterans home.