Hilo Medical Center’s Public Information Officer Elena Cabatu has provided an update, and reported that one additional person has died from COVID-19. The total number of deaths of Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home residents is 7. Yesterday one test had to be repeated to confirm whether one resident had died of COVID-19 vs another cause–and it was confirmed.
Fourteen COVID-19 patients are now hospitalized. As of Sunday afternoon, Kona Community Hospital still has one COVID-19 patient hospitalized, and no COVID-19 tests from any inpatients pending. As of Saturday afternoon, North Hawaii Community Hospital had no COVID-19 patients.
The attached photo are some of the Hilo Medical Center staff members reminding everybody it’s our kuleana to wear masks and help prevent the spread of the virus. One of the biggest concerns of this virus spreading, especially on the island, is that we could overwhelm our hospitals. So far, according to HMC Chief Executive Dan Brinkman, the facility is able to handle its regular patients and its COVID-19 patients, all of whom are separated from the regular hospital patients.
Below is the HMC update:
HILO MEDICAL CENTER UPDATE (as of 2:30 pm on Sunday, September 6, 2020)
o 14 total COVID-positive patients are hospitalized: 5 in ICU, 9 in COVID Unit
· YUKIO OKUTSU STATE VETERANS HOME UPDATE (as of 2:30 pm on Sunday, September 6, 2020)
o The following is today’s report by Avalon Healthcare, the managing company of the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home:
§ A total of 55 residents and 18 employees have tested positive for COVID-19
· 3 residents are currently hospitalized at Hilo Medical Center
· 40 total residents are currently cared for at the veterans home’s COVID designated area
· 5 residents have recovered
· 1 death to report today, Sunday, September 6, 2020 related to COVID-19 with significant, underlying health issues.
o 7 total resident deaths related to COVID-19 have occurred. The Hilo Medical Center and Ykio Okutsu Veterans Home staff offer deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones.
