Kona Community Hospital has tested all its employees and patients, and says 545 employees and contractors have tested negative, along with 42 of 43 patients. One patient was already hospitalized for COVID-19. Judy Donovan, spokesperson for the hospital, noted that all patients are tested when they come to the hospital, so this was at least the second test for all patients.
Two tests are outstanding and remain with the testing lab. One test is under review.
The hospital tested all patients and all employees, physicians, and contractors after three employees tested positive for the virus earlier in the week.
The testing was done by Premier Medical Group Hawaii under the direction of Dr. Scott Miscovich. Because of the concerns over any positive COVID-19 cases connected with a healthcare facility, Kona Community Hospital says it has asked Dr. Miscovich to conduct up to three additional on-site testings, to meet the “gold standard” for detecting COVID-19 if there is high risk:
Day 4 – July 20: Retest all staff providing direct patient care as they are considered high risk.
Day 8 – July 24: All KCH personnel, affiliated staff, providers and contractors are tested again.
Day 14 – July 30: Additional testing will be done, depending on what the Day 8 results are.
Additionally, on Saturday, Premier Medical Group held a pop-up testing at West Hawaii Civic Center to test anybody who might have been around Kona Hospital from July 8 on, plus any family members or community members who needed testing. Those results should be back within a few days.
Hawaii County has updated a list of COVID-19 test sites, for anybody who needs testing. Click here for the county list.
Photo is cars lined up at 8 a.m. Saturday with community members wanting to get tested for COVID-19 at West Hawaii Civic Center, plus the screening team.
