As Hawaii lifts the mandatory mask mandate and Safe Travels Program, hospitals on the Big Island are generally seeing fewer COVID-19 patients, including Kona Community Hospital, which recently saw a six- day period during which no COVID-19 patients were admitted.
“Thanks to the downtrend of COVID in our community, KCH recently had a 6-day period with no (zero) COVID in-patients,” said Judy Donovan, regional director of marketing and strategic planning for both Kona Community and Kohala hospitals.
However, this week, the hospital saw an increase in positive test results.
“This week, we have seen an uptick in positive test results, though, including a few patients who required admission for care,” Donovan continued.
West Hawaii Community Health Center reported a similar trend in COVID-19 cases.
“The number of COVID cases are fluctuating week by week, but illness is generally milder,” said Emily Crabill, marketing manager at West Hawaii Community Health Center in Kona.
In its weekly update issued Wednesday, the state Department of Health reported 160 new COVID-19 cases on the Big Island, for an average of 22 new cases per day. Statewide, 1,327 new cases were reported.
And community members are still getting boosted. As of midweek, 77.1% of the state’s total population has been vaccinated, as well as 68% of the Big Island’s total population. Of those eligible for a booster or third dose, 55% have completed their additional inoculations.
“I’m hearing the (booster) demand has been steady,” said Laura Lott, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii’s director of communications.
Kaiser members and nonmembers can be vaccinated for COVID-19 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Hilo clinic; from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. on Monday and Friday and from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the Kona clinic. The Waimea clinic offers vaccines from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Vaccine boosters are also available at West Community Health Center by appointment only, and eligible patients can receive a second dose of the booster shot.
The second booster shot is available to individuals who have received their first booster shot at least four months ago. Those eligible include people 50 years and older and people 12 years and older who are immunocompromised.
North Hawaii Community Hospital has started offering second booster shots at its walk-in vaccine clinic from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Wednesday.
“Since we started giving second boosters, we’ve given about 300 vaccinations, which are mostly going to those 50 years and older,” said spokesperson Lynn Scully. “Many people are getting boosters to prepare for travel, or because the mask mandates have gone away.”
Although there have been some long waits at the clinic, people are encouraged to wait it out and get the vaccine to continue to protect themselves.
“We had a high volume the past two weeks, but I’m thinking it will stabilize,” Scully said. “There were some long waits, but we want to encourage people to come and get vaccinated while it’s still easy, available and free.”
KTA Pharmacy also is offering second booster shots to anyone who meets the standards set by the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.
“We have been seeing some people, but the demand is not as high as we expected, especially compared to the first booster shot,” said Kerri Okamura, director of pharmacy operations. “We are here, though, and are ready to take appointments.”
Kona Community Hospital will occasionally administer in-patient vaccines and boosters, but no longer keeps them in stock, as the products expire quickly, Donovan said.
In East Hawaii, Hilo Medical Center reported also seeing less and less COVID-19 patients.
“There is not much to report on COVID here,” HMC spokesperson Elena Cabatu said Monday. “We have three patients, and that’s the most we’ve had in about a month or so.”
Hawaii Tribune Herald reporter Kelsey Walling contributed to this report.
