With the summer wave, a COVID-19 outbreak has hit the Hilo Benioff Medical Center鈥檚 nursing home.
Currently, there are 10 residents and five staff that tested positive for COVID over the last week, according to Kaui Chartrand, the hospital鈥檚 Extended Care Facility administrator.
The facility on Aug. 7 received the first positive COVID test results for a resident.
鈥淭he good news is that we are prepared to respond,鈥� said Chartrand. 鈥淲e have COVID protocols in place that includes quarantining and isolating our residents. It entails surveillance testing for all staff and all residents, with a frequency of twice a week. It entails treatment that we have now 鈥� we鈥檙e treating all of our COVID positive residents with Paxlovid.鈥�
The nursing home residents are so far experiencing mild symptoms such as nasal congestion and cough, she said. None have needed to be transferred to the acute hospital for treatment.
After contact tracing efforts, Chartrand believes the virus most likely entered the facility via a visitor.
鈥淲e are identifying that it was probably a visitor that had brought it in鈥� she said, 鈥渨hich is a reminder, to all of us that when we鈥檙e in the community, to be aware of attending events and being mindful when coming to visit long-term care facilities 鈥� making sure that you鈥檙e not coming in with symptoms.鈥�
Visitors to the Hilo facility are encouraged, and offered, a surgical mask to wear while visiting, she said, to help prevent the spread of COVID and other respiratory illnesses. She said the staff, meanwhile, do wear masks while working.
All of the residents are also vaccinated against COVID, she said.
The outbreak occurs as the number of COVID cases in 91直播 continue an uptick as part of a national summer wave.
On Wednesday, the 91直播 Department of Health reported the positivity rate, or percentage of positive tests, was at 14.8%, down from 16.1% the previous week. On Oahu, the positivity rate was higher, at 18.9%.
DOH was unable to respond immediately to an inquiry as to how many nursing homes in 91直播 have experienced outbreaks in addition to HBMC.
Wastewater concentrations of the coronavirus that causes COVID, however, were still very high in 91直播 for the week ending Aug. 2, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Only two U.S. states 鈥� 91直播 and Louisiana 鈥� continued to have very high levels.
No new COVID deaths were reported over the last week. The COVID death toll stands at 2,233, according to DOH, which will only count in-state 91直播 resident deaths on its mortality dashboard, going forward.
DOH is undergoing a transition to a new online platform for its dashboards, and public data on the number of COVID patients hospitalized has been unavailable since June 11.
CDC said in its weekly summary that COVID positivity was increasing nationally, along with emergency department visits for COVID among all ages. Seasonal influenza, meanwhile, is low, while RSV activity is very low nationally.
Chartrand said the last time there was an outbreak at the facility was last fall, with about the same number of patients infected. The facility has a total of 54 residents.
During this outbreak, testing will continue, twice a week, to monitor staff and patients.
鈥淲e want 100% negative residents for all residents and all staff, and then we will close out the outbreak,鈥� she said.
鈥淲hile we can鈥檛 prevent COVID from entering our facilities, I want to assure everyone that we are prepared to respond,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e have clear protocols and processes in place.鈥�
91直播 health officials in July warned the virus was circulating at higher levels and urged residents to remain vigilant.
DOH recommended 91直播 residents get the 2024-2025 COVID vaccine if part of a higher-risk population; stay home when sick; mask while infected or recovering; and get tested and seek treatments needed.
Tim Brown, a local infectious diseases expert who monitors COVID numbers, said there were hints of having peaked last week, with a slowdown to come. But the start of the school year could change that as students return, boosting the numbers of cases instead, he said.
鈥淭his is a good time to step up measures to keep your kupuna safe at home as COVID sweeps through schools,鈥� he said.