Record-high surge in COVID cases in state takes its toll

Omicron becomes dominant variant in state, though delta still most common in Maui county

Local health care workers are feeling burnt out as COVID-19 case counts continue to hit record numbers two years into the pandemic and hospitals brace for another surge in Maui County.

While resources and supplies at Maui Memorial Medical Center are steadily available amid the onset of the omicron variant, Maui Health System spokesperson Tracy Dallarda said that staffing is a concern as the state Department of Health reported a record-high count of 3,484 confirmed and probable cases on Thursday, with a test positivity rate of 14.1 percent.

For every 100,000 Hawaii residents between the ages of 18 and 44, there was an average of 626 new cases during the week ending on Dec. 19, which is the highest rate of any age group, according to DOH data.

"Our staff is tired," Dallarda said Thursday. "It has been two solid years and the beginning of the third year of the pandemic. While our patient count is low, 11 COVID patients today, it is still exhausting for our health care workers."

Officials have continued to say that not overwhelming the hospitals will mean getting fully vaccinated, including booster shots, as well as practicing the usual health and safety protocols -- wear a mask, social distance, avoid large crowds, stay home when sick and practice good hygiene.

The demand for testing and test supplies is "really high right now" due to case count trends and "breakthrough cases" of vaccinated people due to omicron, said DOH spokesperson Brooks Baehr.

The department is "doing everything we can to leverage all of our resources to get testing to people as available as possible," he added.

In addition to researching testing site schedules and reaching out to health care providers, Baehr also recommended that residents be proactive by stocking up on a few at-home testing kits in the event one is needed.

"So if anyone has the sniffles or anything, we want to be able to test quickly," he said of his own family. "Even if you don't think you need it now, but you're in the pharmacy and you see those home test kits, you might want to buy some."

Dallarda said that Maui Health is working with the Healthcare Association of Hawaii for Federal Emergency Management Agency relief, similar to how other hospitals around the state are seeking extra help to meet the demands for health care.

As of Thursday, two of the 29 total intensive care unit beds at Maui Memorial are being used for COVID-19 patients while only four ventilators are in use -- there are 42 tier-one vents and about 30 more that can be used for bridge venting, Dallarda said.

In total, more than 77,000 doses of first, second and booster shots combined have been administered so far by Maui Health, Dallarda said.

They have been averaging about 400 booster shots per week.

"That has jumped this week with nearly 600 already administered -- a very good sign," she added.

Since the start of the vaccine rollout one year ago, about 74 percent of the state's population has completed their primary vaccine series. Though DOH recognizes that 100 percent vaccination status will not be possible, Baehr said that there has been a slow and steady increase in the numbers.

"People are finally giving in and realizing that this is no joke -- they want to protect their families, they want to protect themselves, they've seen the crazy spread of the omicron variant," he said.

The definition of being "fully vaccinated" is changing, though, for Maui County. Starting Jan. 8, full vaccination status will mean anyone who's gotten their first series of Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson as well as a booster shot.

"The Department of Health does not make policy, but it wholeheartedly supports including a third shot in the definition of fully vaccinated," Baehr said.

A recent genome sequencing report released by the Health Department on Wednesday said that the omicron variant has "quickly overtaken delta as the dominant variant" since the last report released Dec. 15 -- this variant now accounts for an estimated 66 percent of the COVID-19 variants circulating the state.

For Maui County, delta still remains the dominant variant, accounting for 80 percent of the samples while omicron grew to 20 percent of the samples for the two-week period.

Moving forward, the department noted that "we have to evolve with the pandemic," be prepared for any changes with the virus and continue practicing the health and safety protocols that have been recommended for the past two years in order to reduce COVID-19 testing or hospitalization demands.

"During this surge and on New Year's Eve, make every effort to protect yourself and your family," Baehr added.

* Dakota Grossman can be reached at dgrossman@mauinews.com.