Hilo Nursing Home Hit by COVID Outbreak: 93 Cases and 1 Fatality Reported

A recent outbreak of COVID-19 at a nursing home in Hilo has resulted in 93 cases and one fatality, as reported by the state Department of Health.

In early April, the state Health Department was informed about the outbreak at Life Care Center of Hilo and has been assisting the facility with technical expertise.

As of Monday, the facility has reported a total of 93 cases, with 76 residents and 17 staff members testing positive. Unfortunately, one resident who contracted the virus passed away after being transferred to the hospital.

After implementing enhanced infection prevention measures in consultation with the Department of Health, the rate of new cases has started to decrease. No new cases have been identified in the past week, according to the latest update from DOH.

It is worth noting that Life Care Center of Hilo had previously experienced outbreaks in October 2020 and during the summer of 2021.

The administrator of the nursing home, however, has not responded to inquiries from the Star-Advertiser.

This outbreak coincides with a rise in the number of nursing home resident cases per capita in Hawaii, as highlighted in the AARP Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard. For the four weeks ending on April 23, there were 5.4 cases per 100 residents, compared to 1.3 cases per 100 residents for the previous four-week period ending on March 26. This puts Hawaii at the top of the list in the United States, surpassing New Mexico and North Dakota in terms of rate.

Despite the high vaccination rate among nursing home residents in Hawaii, with 72.4% fully vaccinated, AARP Hawaii spokesperson Craig Gima points out that COVID-19 tends to enter nursing homes when transmission rates increase in the community. Additionally, nursing homes continue to face staffing shortages, compounding the challenges posed by outbreaks.

Gima emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant and safeguarding the most vulnerable individuals, stating, “We shouldn’t let down our guard, even though there’s no emergency anymore. We shouldn’t stop protecting the people who are most vulnerable.”

Dr. Scott Miscovich of Premier Medical Group commended the nursing home staff for their diligent efforts in managing the outbreak but cautioned that this might not be the last one. It serves as a reminder of the persistent risks associated with the virus.

According to Dr. Miscovich, “Our kupuna are still at risk, especially those that are in a group setting like a nursing home or that may live in a multigenerational home. We may be bringing it home unknowingly, because we still have half of us that become positive that are asymptomatic.”

While life-saving medications for COVID-19, such as Paxlovid and remdesivir, are now available, Dr. Miscovich stressed the need for early administration to maximize their effectiveness. He expressed concern over the growing difficulty in accessing remdesivir and urged the state to ensure sufficient availability of the medication.

The Department of Health’s Office of Health Care Assurance conducted a focused infection control survey at the nursing home in response to an anonymous COVID-related complaint, adhering to federal requirements.

The Department of Health recommends that nursing homes keep their residents and staff updated on COVID-19 vaccinations, review sick leave policies to ensure that sick staff members stay home, and follow the updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including the wearing of masks around vulnerable individuals.

In an email, the Department of Health stated, “High COVID-19 vaccination and booster uptake in nursing homes, along with implementation of other layered mitigation measures, has greatly reduced the number of hospitalizations and deaths associated with outbreaks in these settings. Unfortunately, once a COVID-19 outbreak has started in a nursing home, it can be very challenging to control, and deaths can still occur.”