An employee of Leahi Hospital, a facility for the elderly, has tested positive for COVID-19, facility administrators confirmed Wednesday.

Leahi Hospital is a nursing home and offers other adult day care services. The employee last worked there on Sept. 4 and is now in isolation.

“We take this situation very seriously and immediately implemented our emergency protocols once we learned of the positive test,” Derek Akiyoshi, Oahu region CEO for Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, said in a statement.

For the past six months, the hospital has screened employees for symptoms or possible exposure before they begin their shifts.

No Leahi resident inpatients have been diagnosed with COVID-19 to date.

“Leahi Hospital will continue to do what is necessary to prevent infection,” Akiyoshi said.

The largest proportion of COVID-19 related fatalities in Hawaii have occurred among the elderly.

Leahi is among at least 22 long term care facilities that have reported COVID-19 cases among staff or patients within the past month.

Help power essential news and information

As a local newsroom, Civil Beat has a unique public service role in times of need. Your support ensures that we can pivot when emergencies arise and get vital information out to everyone, from all communities.

Support timely and accurate breaking news stories as well as impactful coverage across the state. Donate today.

About the Author