By Wendy Osher
The number of COVID-19 cases at Maui Memorial Medical Center rose to 28. This afternoon, Maui Health confirmed that there are 17 health care workers and 11 patients at Maui Memorial Medical Center who have tested positive for COVID-19. .
The health care workers are quarantined at home and the patients are isolated in the hospital’s hot COVID-19 units.
Tracy Dallarda, Communications for Maui Health / Maui Memorial Medical Center said that as many hospitals around the state are experiencing an increase in cases, Maui is no different and also sees an increase. She notes that if there is community outreach, there is also an increase in hospital settings.
According to Maui Health, the focus still remains on tracking contacts, screening and testing.
From today, all patients who have not been tested in the last 24 hours will be tested. Starting today, every employee and every provider is tested according to Dallarda.
All admissions to the hospital will continue with energy testing at admission, and on day six again to ensure that patients are negative and identify individuals who may be asymptomatic but may carry the virus.
According to Dallarda, Maui Health is expanding its criteria for use for personal protective equipment that overcomes both the Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In addition to these precautionary measures, Maui Hospital also puts an immediate break on all selective procedures and surgeries for the week. Hospital administrators say this is to maintain bed capacity as needed.
Meanwhile, Hale Makua Health Services received word from the State of Hawaiʻi, Department of Health that one resident tested positive for COVID-19 at Hale Makua Kahului and one patient from Hale Makua Home Health also tested positive.
The state reported another three-digit increase in new COVID-19 cases with 174 new cases on Monday, including 163 on Oʻahu, nine on Maui and two on Hawaii Island. This marks the 14th consecutive day that the daily count has been in the triple digits, with a record breaking 355 cases reported on Thursday. More than 96% of the active state cases are nationwide on the island of Oʻahu.
* Check back for updates for this development story.
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