Hilo Medical Center says there are currently 17 COVID-19 patients in the facility, with 5 in the Intensive Care Unit, 11 in the COVID Unit, and 1 in the Extended Care Facility. All COVID-19 patients are isolated from others.
The State COVID-19 Joint Information Center released information today on the two investigations that are being done at Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home, one by the Veterans Administration and one by the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. Both were critical of some aspects of the Home’s handling of the COVID-19. In addition, Mayor Harry Kim again demanded of Gov. Ige that Avalon Health Care be removed as the home’s administrator.
HMC says that Avalon Health Care, the Administrator of the Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home, will now provide its own updates. Click here for the Yukio Okutsu site. The last update was on Sunday, Sept. 20.
Below is Hilo Medical Center’s update:
HILO MEDICAL CENTER UPDATE (as of 5:00 pm on Monday, September 21, 2020)
- 17 total COVID-positive patients are hospitalized: 5 in ICU, 11 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 was conducted today, results pending.
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, unrelated to the veterans home.