Laguna Honda reports near‑full occupancy, universal testing rounds and low resident case counts

Michael Phillips, CEO of Laguna Honda Hospital, briefed the Health Commission on facility operations during the COVID‑19 response, staffing, testing and reopening plans. He said the hospital was operating at roughly 97% occupancy with a designated 15‑bed COVID unit and had conducted multiple rounds of universal testing across staff and residents.

Phillips reported that, of the thousands of tests performed in the third round, there had been 45 total positive cases to date: 31 among staff and 14 among residents, with most recovered and only one active resident case at the time of the report. "Thus far we have had a total of 45 positive cases...31 are staff and 14 are residents," Phillips said. He described four units on quarantine with retesting and an expectation that units would come off quarantine as retests clear.

He described contingency planning for emergency staffing (reassigning certain RNs/LVNs in administrative roles to clinical floors if needed), active hiring for key leadership roles (chief nursing officer, chief quality officer) and a phased approach to any visitation or broader reopening given the vulnerability of long‑term care residents.

Phillips also outlined staff support measures and campus activities, noting community and diplomatic donations and events to support morale. The commission asked for follow‑up on second‑round testing results and on specific plans for visitation and phased reopening; Phillips said he would provide data and more detailed plans at a subsequent meeting.