The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday moved Hawaii County from the “Medium” to “High” COVID-19 community level.
The classification is based on several factors, including COVID hospital admissions, which jumped from roughly 9.5 per 100,000 people over the past two weeks to 15.9, as well as increased new case rates, now 398.49 per 100,00 people.
It also cites an increase of inpatient beds used by COVID-19 patients, now at 8.9% of total beds.
“The CDC classifying Hawaii Island as having a high level of community COVID is another reminder that COVID-19 is still a significant health threat,” said state Department of Health spokesman Brooks Baehr. “Wearing masks, getting up to date on vaccines and boosters, and avoiding crowds will help protect you and those around you.”
Hilo Medical Center currently has 23 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, with cases in every unit of the facility, including medical, progressive care, surgical pediatrics, OBGYN and in the emergency department.
“The entire hospital is taking care of all 23 patients,” said HMC spokeswoman Elena Cabatu. “The majority of them are incidental, so they came in for something else. That’s about two-thirds of them.”
Cabatu noted most patients skew older, averaging in their late 60s or 70s, up into their 90s.
“It’s definitely not as severe as it was in (the surge caused by the delta variant), but more severe than it was in the first omicron surge,” she said. “We have a little bit more going to the ICU in this surge, with some even going on (ventilators).”
Over the last two weeks, hospitalizations have climbed steadily from nine patients up to 18 and now to 23, following a roughly 10-week upward trajectory for HMC.
“This is a longer surge than usual,” Cabatu said. “But I think our community is very fortunate that this surge is not as severe as delta.”
While patient numbers increase, reaching capacity is a concern that HMC plans to work through regardless.
“We have to care for everyone that comes to us, and we don’t have the ability to divert our patients to another hospital,” she said. “We do have a transitional care unit open to put some of the patients that are waiting for placement into long-term care facilities.”
COVID has also impacted the staffing at HMC, although this week has marked a noticeable improvement.
“This week we’re in a lot better shape,” Cabatu said. “That doesn’t mean we don’t have a flare-up here and there, but this week is better than the last two weeks.
“We also have seen very high numbers of people coming to the emergency department for a variety of issues,” she added, noting the hospital is receiving between 140 and 150 patients per day.
“We consider it pretty high,” she said. “When long-term facilities can’t accept patients due to their staffing constraints or COVID outbreaks, then it backs up the hospital that, in turn, backs up the emergency department and causes longer wait times.”
Cabatu noted wait times on busy weekends can last up to several hours.
“With that, we ask our community to allow us some grace and ask them to exercise some patience with us,” she said. “We are trying our very best.”
Cabatu also noted that patients are working directly with their primary care providers to secure treatment options at home, which has helped keep hospitalizations down.
“But, of course, if they need to come to the hospital, please do so,” she said. “We do provide treatment in the emergency department for COVID.”
The hospital continues to administer roughly 20 COVID treatments per day
“That’s on the high side for us and tells us the infection is still going and spreading through our community,” she said.
Additional test kits are available for those visiting the hospital, and patients are encouraged to ask for extra at-home testing kits when visiting.
Email Grant Phillips at gphillips@hawaiitribune-herald.com.