Hawaii Struggles to Keep COVID Cases Under Control

Thursday, August 19, 2021

Hawaii’s healthcare system meets a critical situation in an attempt to reduce the number of new infections and hospitalisations in the recent case surge.

Officials are encouraging more vaccinations and tests as Hawaii County has an uneven vaccination rate.

According to the latest report, there were 87 new cases across East and West Hawaii.

Information about Hawaii’s latest hospital vacancies and possible restrictions was collected from Hawaii County Mayor, Mitch Roth.

Roth said people do not realise that it is not just COVID. Patients waiting in the emergency rooms put us right at the edge.

Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital was working at capacity on Wednesday.

All ICU beds of the Hilo Medical Centre were occupied six of whom were by COVID patients.

In an interview, Mitch Roth stated that before few weeks the condition of the hospitals was pretty good. But as cases are soaring, people have to wait in the emergency room to get into the ICU.

This is the situation of the Hilo Medical Centre and Kona Community Hospital.

Roth also added that prior to COVID there was 50% shortage of healthcare workers and key service providers which did not improve even after COVID.

The doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers are doing everything they can.

People should do the best they can to keep themselves safe and not put the healthcare system at stake.

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