Hale Makua Resident Completes 14-Day Quarantine, Will Undergo Additional Tests to Confirm Recovery

Hale Makua Health Services provided an update this evening on their COVID-19 response efforts following news last week that two individuals who are Home Health patients tested positive; and one nursing home resident at the Kahului facility tested positive but was asymptomatic and recovering.

“Understanding that our kupuna residents are at the highest risk, our first priority has been, and will continue to be the safety of our residents and staff,” said Hale Makua Health Services CEO, Wesley Lo. “For that reason, Hale Makua initiated screening, visitor restrictions and increased cleaning protocols in early March.”

According to Lo, the asymptomatic resident who had tested positive has completed the required 14-day quarantine and is still showing no symptoms of COVID-19, however, additional tests will be administered to confirm recovery.

“We have tested 27 additional residents who have recently been admitted to Hale Makua. All have completed second round of testing and all results have been returned as negative for COVID-19,” said Lo.

As reported last week, two home health clients had tested positive.

• One client has been released from isolation and is recovering.
• The other client is currently in quarantine.
• Employees who were in contact with these clients have either tested negative and/or are completing or have completed 14-day self-isolation.

As of today, April 20, 2020, Hale Makua has tested 82 employees who were in contact with any clients who tested positive for COVID-19. Eighty tests have been returned negative and two remain outstanding.

According to Lo, outstanding test results are not received yet due to turnaround time.  These tests were administered on April 15 and 16.

Lo extended thanks to the Maui community and the County for their continued aloha shown to employees, residents and home health clients.  He provided the following information on precautions being taken by Hale Makua for residents:

• Staff and vendors screened for respiratory symptoms and/or fever prior to entering the campuses since early March.
• All new admissions have been admitted into an isolated wing in Kahului since March 23.
• All employees are required to wear face masks and appropriate PPE at all times.
• Visitors have been prohibited, except in certain circumstances deemed appropriate by an Administrator. Creative ways to keep residents in touch with loved ones have been implemented.
• Employees who work in other healthcare settings are temperature checked at the start and end of shift, in addition to wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout their shift at Hale Makua.
• High touch surfaces are wiped down frequently.

In addition, Hale Makua has a separate set of guidelines for its Home Health staff and patients.

Hale Makua Health Services is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, established in 1946 to provide a home for elders who had no one to care for them or means to pay for care. It is one of Maui’s largest non-government employers with over 450 employees providing care for over 1,500 individuals on Maui annually. The organization’s continuum of healthcare programs include two nursing homes and rehab centers specializing in both in and out-patient physical, occupational and speech therapies; a home health care agency; an adult day health center; and an adult residential care home. For more information visit HaleMakua.org.