Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – Representative John M. Mizuno, Chair of the House Health Committee, and Representative Rida Cabanilla, a registered nurse, are asking all nursing homes to comply with recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and have COVID-19 testing for all their residents.
"It is no secret that our nursing home population, with older adults and many with underlying chronic medical conditions are at a highest risk of being infected by respiratory pathogens like COVID-19," said Representative Mizuno. "With the recent outbreak of positive COVID-19 cases at nursing homes in Hawaiʻi, it is essential that we have nursing homes and community care homes align with CDC guidelines for testing their staff and patients for COVID-19. The testing will offer a much-needed layer of protection for our elderly and disabled."
"We are in the middle of a pandemic, we must learn from the mistakes and devastation of the elderly population in nursing homes everywhere from Seattle to Brazil. As lawmakers we need to implement these CDC guidelines to assure adequate protection of our kupuna and save lives," said Representative Cabanilla.
If nursing homes, community care homes, adult day care centers, homes for people with disabilities and senior centers would like information on COVID-19 testing, contact Rep. Mizuno's office at (808) 586-6050.
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