Hospital Update: HMC Continues to Operate Beyond Capacity

Hilo Medical Center continues to operate beyond capacity due to an ongoing surge in COVID-related cases.

As of Friday, Sept. 10, HMC was caring for 36 COVID patients — 30 unvaccinated and six vaccinated. Three of the patients are in ICU, all on vents. Thirty-two of the patients are in the hospitalʻs COVID unit and one is in the OB unit.

As of Friday, HMC officials say the hospital has 12 post-COVID patients — 11 unvaccinated and one vaccinated — seven of whom are on ventilators.

“Altogether, we have a total of 48 patients or 33% of our total patients are affected by COVID,” officials reported Friday.

HMC was designated a FEMA-funded monoclonal antibody (MoAB) clinic site, expected to open in the latter part of September. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Kona Community Hospital was treating 13 COVID patients as of Thursday, Sept. 9. Three of the individuals were in ICU and 10 in other units of the hospital.

“Although our inpatient numbers have been trending down for several days, the level of acute care each COVID patient requires continues to be complex,” KCH stated Thursday. “Oxygen conservation continues to be a top priority as we hit an all-time low in our oxygen reserves today.”

KCH did receive an oxygen delivery on Friday, which they say will help mitigate the problem for now.

Additionally, eight additional FEMA support personnel arrived at KCH on Wednesday, Sept. 8.