SEVEN individuals are currently hospitalized for moderate to severe Covid-19 symptoms, Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. Chief Executive Officer Esther L. Muna said Wednesday.
Of the seven patients, one is vaccinated and the rest are unvaccinated against Covid-19.
Three are being treated at the hospital and four at the alternate care site at Kanoa Resort.
“Our current situation is disheartening and frustrating as we continue to see unvaccinated individuals admitted to our hospital….and alternate care site with serious complications…. We continue to emphasize that this is preventable,” Muna said.
“We are, of course, especially concerned about the health and safety of our vulnerable population, including the elderly, those with co-existing medical conditions and, of course, our frontline healthcare workers.
“We are seeing our emergency rooms [filled] with individuals coming in with symptoms. It is overwhelming for us, again, with the surge of Covid-19. Again, seven individuals hospitalized is as concerning for us as the healthcare system. It hinders our ability to care for our other patients experiencing severe illnesses, such as diabetes complications. Again, this is regardless of their vaccination status,” Muna said.
“A lot of this is really about behavior. We want people to understand that, first of all, the vaccine is safe, and if you are eligible, please try to get [vaccinated], especially as we get more supplies.”
On Tuesday, CHCC said it was out of booster shots for the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, but was expecting more doses within a matter of days.
To register for Covid-19 vaccines or booster shots, visit www.vaccinatecnmi.com
To register for community-based testing, go to https://covidtesting.chcc.health
“I know that some individuals are having a hard time getting a slot in the testing. If you feel like you are or you know that you are a contact of someone who is positive [for Covid-19], the first thing you have to do is stay home and self-quarantine… and avoid contact with others, if you can,” Muna said.
If you have concerns regarding possible exposure to a positive case, call the CHCC contact tracers no later than 9 p.m. at (670) 285-1942 or (670) 286-1710/29.
If you are experiencing symptoms of Covid-19, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, or new loss of taste or smell, see your provider or call the CHCC Tele-Triage hotline at 233-2067.
The community is reminded to practice the three Ws: Wear a mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance, especially around individuals outside of your household.
