Senator Brian Schatz released the following statement regarding the COVID-19 cluster and the six COVID-19 related deaths that have occurred at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home.
“The outbreak we are seeing at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home is heartbreaking,” said Sen. Schatz. “My staff and I are working with state and local officials to make sure they utilize all the federal help that’s available. The Department of Veterans Affairs is capable of doing even more, but we cannot be shy about asking them for help. We also need to focus on infection control best practices to contain this outbreak. The state should ask VA to share infection control specialists, provide additional testing, and continue to share PPE to get this under control. Residents of senior homes are some of the most vulnerable to COVID-19. That’s why it is also absolutely critical that the facility follows infection control guidelines and that the state dramatically expands testing at these facilities to continue to protect these vulnerable residents and their care workers.”
As of Friday, Aug. 4, 2020 at 1:15 p.m., Hilo Medical Center reports that 47 residents and 18 employees at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home have now tested positive for COVID-19.