Kona Community Hospital confirmed Wednesday evening that two incoming traveling employees have tested positive for COVID-19.
Both traveling employees were positively diagnosed prior to beginning work in the hospital, and are now quarantined at home, the hospital said in a statement. Test results for both have been reported to the state Department of Health.
The two employees, a locum physician and a nurse traveler, tested positive during a mandatory pre-employment testing before they were able to begin work at the hospital. Both were asymptomatic and were immediately sent home to quarantine.
The hospital said neither employee entered the hospital or clinical areas at any time during the pre-employment process.
The hospital’s COVID-19 emergency management plan includes a robust pre-employment testing policy, which includes all employees incoming from anywhere out of state must receive a negative COVID test result prior to beginning work in the hospital.
“Our policy to test all incoming traveling employees in advance of working at KCH helps prevent potential exposures within the hospital.” said Interim Chief Nurse Officer Stephanie Irwin, RN, MSN. “We will continue to evaluate our processes to align with the most current scientific data from the Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”
Additionally, Kona Community Hospital continues daily temperature checks and monitoring of all staff for signs and symptoms of the virus, and providing testing when appropriate.
The hospital still has a no visitor policy in place with exceptions for OB, pediatrics and those receiving end-of-life care.