The Hilo Life Care Center located at 944 West Kawailani Street in Hilo, reports 17 positive COVID-19 Cases. 12 residents and 5 associates have come down with the virus. One resident and two associates have recovered so far.
Hilo Life Care Center released the following statement on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020 about the cases:
Below is the basic timeline for reference, as well as our current case count.
- Sunday, Sept. 20 – Retesting of all residents was completed. All results were negative.
- Monday, Sept. 21 – Retesting of all associates was completed. All results were negative.
- Wednesday, Sept. 23 – Received notification that a non-direct care associate tested positive in the community. All associates and resident family members were notified about the positive test result.
- Thursday, Sept. 24 – We have NO ACTIVE COVID-19 residents in the facility. Altogether, we have had four associates who have tested positive. One has recovered and returned to work. The other three are still recovering at home and will not return to work until the CDC’s guidelines for returning to work after COVID-19 have been met.
- Friday, Sept. 25 – We tested an additional 18 staff members. These tests were in addition to our weekly testing. All results came back negative. However, the lab did call and inform us that a resident had tested positive. The resident was in receiving care in the yellow zone in our facility and was immediately moved to the red zone, where the resident is receiving care. The red zone is an isolated COVID-19 unit with a dedicated staff.
- Saturday, Sept. 26 – We retested 17 associates and 4 residents. All 17 associates tested negative for COVID-19, but two of the resident tests came back positive. The two residents were immediately moved to the red zone in our facility, where they are isolated and receiving care from dedicated staff.
- Sunday, Sept. 27 – Whole house testing of residents completed.
- Monday, Sept. 28 – Whole house testing of staff completed.
- Tuesday, Sept. 29 – Results from staff and resident testing received. One resident has been hospitalized.
Current total number of COVID-19 cases in our facility (as of Sept. 30):
- 12 resident cases: 11 active resident cases, with 1 hospitalized. 1 resident fully recovered.
- 5 associate cases: 3 active associate cases (non-direct care associates) with 2 associates fully recovered.
We will continue testing weekly until further notification. Our residents are also monitored multiple times day and night for any symptoms or concerns. And every associate is screened when they arrive for work and when they leave, including checking temperature and monitoring for any symptoms or concerns. We will continue to work in partnership with the Hawaii State Department of Health and the local health department and will follow any guidance they provide. We appreciate their continued support, as well as the support of the community.
We love our residents and our determination to serve them has not wavered since the beginning of the pandemic in March. We take what we are doing seriously, and we are spending our time on the front lines with who matters most – our residents.
Mark Mann, executive director