HONOLULU — The head of a hospital group warned the growing number of coronavirus cases in Hawaii is on track to outstrip the state’s capacity to provide medical services to fight the illness.
Hawaii Pacific Health CEO Ray Vara made the assessment following a meeting Monday of the state House of Representatives Select Committee on COVID-19 Economic and Financial Preparedness, Hawaii Public Radio reported Tuesday.
“If we continue on these current trends of triple digit numbers for another seven to 10 days, we’re going to begin stressing those capacities pretty quickly,” Vara said.
Hawaii Pacific Health operates four hospitals on Oahu and Kauai, including Kapiolani Medical Center, Straub Medical Center, Pali Momi Medical Center, and Wilcox Medical Center.
The group has built analytical models of the virus spread for months with the goal of preventing the illness from overwhelming the state’s health care system.
The growth in new cases was predicted by the hospital group’s models until recently. But the state no longer appears to be maintaining an effective testing and contact tracing program, while members of the public are not adhering to face mask and social distancing guidelines, Vara said.
“All evidence is that there’s breakdowns of those assumptions, both on the state side in terms of being able to keep up with contact tracing, as well as the individual personal behaviors around the community,” Vara said.
Large public gatherings at beaches and parks have taken place in recent weeks, including one on Oahu’s North Shore over the weekend that was cited by the state Emergency Management Agency.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some — especially older adults and people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
What a poorly written article of fear. There is no reason for all these people to stay in a hospital. Have them come in, test them, and then send them home for the love of God.
Are people dying left and right in Hawaii’s hospitals??? NO. Stop the drama where there is no drama. Those over 70 are the ones requiring hospital stay. SMH.
We have done our part in flattening the durve, what has the state done to prepare for the curve to peak, Almost 5 months and no increase in intensive care facilities reported. China built a massive emergency hospital in preparation for the cases, New York had a great many fatalities becaus because the health care system was overwhelmed. Our leaders have failed us in not preparing for the surge of cases. Let’s get some emergency rooms available before it is to late. Heart attack victims who die because the is no treatment available don’t count as a vivid desth, but they would have loved had care been available. Did we not lear n anything from the horror stories of NYC emergency projecting there peak?