A cluster of COVID-19 cases at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home continues to grow, and a fourth death related to the virus has been reported.
According to information shared on its website this afternoon, 18 more residents and three additional staff members have tested positive for the virus, bringing those totals to 46 residents and 13 staff members.
The first cases were reported at the facility last week and it is believed the virus entered the facility through an asymptomatic staff member exposed in the community, the website states.
Staff members with COVID-19 are self-isolating at home.
Residents and staff will be retested Sept. 4.
The veterans home is a Hawaii Health Systems Corp. facility, along with neighboring Hilo Medical Center, but is managed by Avalon Health Care Group.
According to information provided by the hospital, no Yukio Okutsu residents are currently hospitalized at HMC and 41 residents are currently being cared for in a COVID-designated area at the veterans home.
A total of 8 patients with COVID-19 are currently hospitalized at HMC, including two in the hospital’s intensive care unit and six in its COVID-19 unit.
Four staff members from various departments have notified HMC leadership of positive COVID-19 test results. Those employees are quarantining at home.