• Kona Community Hospital: Community Update – January 14, 2022

    January 15, 2022
    Please keep COVID safety precautions in mind as we enter the long holiday weekend. The majority of Hawai’i’s current surge in cases is the result of community spread.

    Parents:  Please see attached “Daily Wellness Check” from the Hawai’i DOE. They are seeking your help in keeping our keiki and schools safe.

    Antibody Therapies Update:  The Omicron variant is NOT neutralized by Regen-cove antibodies. We will have no antibody therapies available for the near future. Our pharmacy is ordering Sotrovimab, which will be effective against the Omicron variant. However, we have no information as to when to expect a delivery, or what the administration criteria will be.

    Visitors:  No Visitor policy has been reinstated as another measure to mitigate the potential for further exposure within the hospital. KCH will reopen to visitors when it is considered safe for patients and staff. We sincerely apologize for this inconvenience.

    Please see today’s update below:

    Kona Community Hospital COVID-19 update for January 14, 2022 (as of 9:00am) below:  

     
    ·         Hospital-wide census: 80                                                     
    ·         16 total COVID-19 patients                                                                  
    o   1 ICU (of 7 total ICU patients)                                
    o   6 Med Surg 2 – COVID Unit 
    o   8 Med Surg 1
    o   0 ventilator(s) in use for COVID patient(s)                       
    o   9 vaccinated COVID patients in-house
    o   0 COVID long-haul patients
    As of January 13, 2022 a cumulative total of 26 COVID-related deaths have occurred in the hospital (no change from previous report).

    View Hawai`i’s latest reported case counts:  

       

    Current vaccination sites can be found on the Hawai`i County COVID-19 Vaccine Summary webpage.

    Current Testing sites: The KCH Emergency Department is NOT a public testing site.

    ·         Visit County of Hawai`i - COVID-19 Testing webpage for information and a listing of free community testing sites.

    West Hawai`i Testing Sites:


    Replacement Vaccine Cards Important Update:  The KCH Call Center & COVID email address are no longer in use.

    ·         If you received a Pfizer vaccine at a KCH vaccine clinic, and need a replacement vaccine card, please contact KCH Medical Records at (808) 322-4473.

    ·         KCH Medical Records cannot replace vaccine cards for vaccines administered at another site.

    Media:

    ·         Star Advertiser – Jan. 12: Queen’s Punchbowl declares internal state of emergency due to staffing shortage.

    ·         Big Island Now – Jan. 11:  Growing Number of COVID Patients Concerns Big Island Hospitals