No additional COVID-19 cases were reported Wednesday at the Yukio Okutsu State Veteran’s Home after 10 people there tested positive earlier this week.
The Hilo veteran’s home confirmed Tuesday that seven residents and three employees at the facility had tested positive for the virus.
Two of the residents were being treated at Hilo Medical Center, while the remaining five were being held in isolation at the veteran’s home. The three employees were self-isolating at their homes.
Hilo Medical Center spokeswoman Elena Cabatu said Wednesday that all residents and staff were tested Sunday and Monday, and no new cases have been detected at the facility. However, she said, all residents and staff will be tested again today.
A veterans home spokesperson said previously that tests of all staff and residents will continue until only negative results are consistently returned.
Cabatu praised the veterans home’s handling of the outbreak, saying the facility has followed HMC guidance in “podding” — or isolating — the COVID-positive patients.
“They’re taking all the necessary precautions,” Cabatu said. “They’re doing a good job isolating (the patients).”
Cabatu said HMC is currently managing five COVID cases in the ICU, while seven more are being isolated in the hospital’s “COVID pod.” This marks a slight decrease from Tuesday, when Cabatu said there were eight patients in isolation.
According to data from Hawaii County, there were 93 active COVID cases on the Big Island Wednesday, and the state Department of Health reported 23 new Big Island cases, bringing the cumulative total number up to 243.
Including the 23 Big Island cases, Wednesday had 277 new cases statewide, with 245 reported on Oahu and another eight on Maui.
Two Oahu men died from the virus, bringing the total statewide death count to 51.
Oahu, where COVID cases have spiked over the past several weeks, began conducting “surge testing,” wherein health officials hope to test more than 5,000 people daily for the next two weeks until 70,000 tests are done.
In the meantime, while case numbers on Oahu seem to be stabilizing after additional restrictions were instituted, the DOH said it is increasingly concerned about the uptick in cases on the Big Island and Maui.
“Along with our county partners, we are closely monitoring these trends,” said Sarah Park, the state epidemiologist. “We have concerns that ongoing gatherings, especially with inconsistent mask use or distancing, are contributing.”
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
