Number of COVID-19 deaths at Hilo’s Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home grows to 24

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - A total of 24 people at the Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home have died of COVID-19.

The Hilo Medical Center reported two new deaths at the veterans home on Sunday.

According to the state Department of Health, Hawaii’s official death toll is at 120, but it’s actually higher than that. Several of the deaths linked to the veterans home in Hilo are not included in the official count because officials are still reviewing medical records.

Just a day prior on Saturday, officials reported four deaths within a 24-hour period. Two of the patients died overnight Friday, and a third on Saturday morning. A fourth death had been confirmed by the afternoon.

This comes as a VA assessment of the facility revealed unaddressed hazards, likely contributing to the dangerous and fast spread within the facility.

[Read the report: VA review of Hilo veterans home finds long list of potential hazards]

Hospital officials provided an update on total cases at the Hilo Medical Center. Here’s the latest info as of Sunday night:

Hilo Medical Center:

16 total COVID-positive patients are hospitalized: 5 in ICU, 11 in COVID Unit, 1 in Extended Care Facility
Admissions to our Extended Care Facility remain paused until the situation is resolved.
Hilo Medical Center is optimistic in managing COVID in the hospital and its long term care facility.
2 total deaths have occurred in the hospital on Sept. 8 and 18.

Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home:

52 residents are currently at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home
19 residents are receiving care in the home’s COVID designated area
5 residents are hospitalized at Hilo Medical Center
24 total resident deaths related to COVID-19 have occurred. “We offer our deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones,” officials said.
2 deaths to report today (Sunday) related to COVID-19 at the veterans home within the last 24 hours.
22 residents and 22 employees have recovered
A total of 70 residents and 32 employees have tested positive for COVID-19 in this outbreak

This story will be updated.