Eight more residents have tested positive for COVID-19 at Life Care Center of Hilo.
According to an update posted to the facility’s website Tuesday afternoon, the eight residents tested positive Monday, bringing the number of cases there to 31.
As of 5 p.m. Monday, there were 24 active resident cases at the facility. Four residents were receiving treatment at Hilo Medical Center and a fifth was being treated at another facility.
Two resident deaths were reported over the weekend.
No additional employees tested positive, according to the update. So far, seven employees have tested positive, four of whom have fully recovered.
According to the post, which is signed by administrator Mark Mann, the Life Care team is following federal guidelines for infection control and testing residents and employees twice a week.
In addition to testing, Life Care Center also is using an electrostatic sprayer to disinfect high-touch areas, limiting elevator use to two people at a time, all associates have been trained in the use of personal protective equipment, and break rooms have been set up for social distancing, among other precautions.
“We are ever so grateful for the support and commitment of our associates, Hilo Medical Center, Hawaii Healthcare Emergency Management Coalition, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, our local health department, the mayor and his office, and others who are assisting and supporting our efforts,” Mann wrote. “We continue to proactively take on the challenges of this pandemic, and our resolve remains to provide a safe environment and peace of mind for each individual under our stewardship.”
Meanwhile, Hilo Medical Center’s Extended Care Facility is now considered COVID-free, the hospital reported Tuesday, and admissions to the facility will soon resume.
Nine people are hospitalized with COVID-19 at HMC, including three in the hospital’s intensive care unit and six in its COVID unit.
Additionally, Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home remains virus free after a devastating outbreak of COVID-19.
Seventy-one residents and 35 employees of the Hilo veterans home have tested positive during the outbreak, which began in late August, and 27 residents have died.
All 35 employees and 42 residents have recovered.
Two residents are hospitalized at HMC. No residents are currently receiving care at Yukio Okutsu.
There have been three deaths at HMC unrelated to the outbreaks in the two Hilo care homes on Sept. 8, Sept. 18 and Oct. 4.
The death toll from that outbreak remained at 27 as of Tuesday.
Email Stephanie Salmons at ssalmons@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
