News

Wailuku, Maui, HI (December 27, 2021) – Yesterday, the state broke the record of the most positive cases in one day with 2,205 reported and the Maui County positivity rate has more than doubled in four days, now at 8.7%, the second highest in the state. Our state positivity rate is at 11.8%, a 716% increase in two weeks.

Maui Health leadership continues to closely monitor the rise in community spread and the potential for increased hospitalizations. Currently, Maui Memorial Medical Center (MMMC) is caring for seven COVID-19 positive patients, with two requiring ICU level of care, and zero on a ventilator. To help keep our community informed, Maui Memorial Medical Center reports COVID-19 patient status on our website, Monday through Friday, at www.mauihealth.org/covid-19.

As a reminder, Maui Health hospitals including MMMC’s Emergency Department are not community COVID-19 testing sites. Please do not access the emergency department for testing, and instead find a testing location using online county and state resources like mauinuistrong.info or hawaiicovid19.com, which are updated with new information frequently.

If you or a loved one is experiencing mild COVID-19 related symptoms, please get tested, quarantine if necessary, and only access the emergency department for critical, emergency care. For a list of COVID-19 symptoms requiring emergency care, please visit www.mauihealth.org/seekERcare.

Additionally, while MMMC is administering monoclonal antibody therapy (mAb) treatment, an FDA emergency use authorization treatment for reducing severity of COVID-19 symptoms in positive individuals at risk for developing severe disease, please do not go to the MMMC emergency room for mAb treatment without an appointment. MMMC is currently the only site on island to provide mAb therapy as an outpatient treatment and it is important that individuals follow the process to review qualifications and treatment indications, and then request an appointment at www.mauihealth.org/mab. Individuals who have more specific questions about mAb therapy should contact their primary care provider who can assess their personal health needs.

Community spread appears to be significant and Maui Health clinicians are urging everyone to get vaccinated and, most importantly, receive the booster dose as soon as possible. Research has shown the booster dose is highly effective at reducing the risk of contracting the Omicron variant. Maui Memorial Medical Center’s Vaccine clinic, located in the main lobby, is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. through January 2022 (closed December 31). No appointment needed; walk-ins are welcome during clinic hours. Please visit www.mauihealth.org/covidvaccine for more information.

Maui Health will continue to monitor activities and provide updates as they become available.

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About Maui Health
Maui Health, aka Maui Health System, community hospitals and associated clinics affiliated with Kaiser Permanente, includes Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital, Lanai Community Hospital and associated clinics, and serves the people of Maui and Lanai. The facilities under Maui Health employ nearly 1700 Maui County residents, partner with over 450 hospital-based physicians, clinicians, and community-based primary and specialty physicians, and are open to all patients regardless of health insurance coverage. Maui Health is committed to delivering high quality, affordable, patient-centered health care and improving the health of the community. Maui Health is supported by Kaiser Permanente’s industry-leading technology systems, evidence-based medicine and nationally recognized care quality. For more information, visit mauihealth.org.