35 Patients at HMC Being Treated for COVID-19

Hilo Medical Center continues to operate beyond capacity due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, especially in the Intensive Care Unit, hospital officials reported Wednesday, Sept. 15.

Currently, HMC has 35 COVID patients, 28 unvaccinated and seven who were vaccinated. Six in the ICU are on ventilators. Twenty-eight are in the COVID unit and one is in the OB unit.

The hospital now has 14 post-COVID patients — 13 unvaccinated, one who is vaccinated and seven on ventilators. Altogether, HMC has a total of 49 patients or 35% of the total patients affected by COVID with 11 on vents or 61% of total ventilators in use.

Hilo Medical Center’s FEMA-funded monoclonal antibody (MoAB) clinic is set to open Tuesday, Sept. 21. Pfizer boosters are currently available to immunocompromised recipients at the Arc of Hilo, no appointment necessary – federal guidance pending on boosters for others.

“Our staff has been pulling together with tremendous support for each other. We ask our community to continue practicing safety precautions,” HMC officials stated. “Please continue using them to keep you and your loved ones safe and please consider getting the vaccination if you haven’t gotten it yet.”