Honolulu Opens Second Isolation and Quarantine Facility for COVID-19 Prevention

In an effort to provide a safe place to isolate and quarantine for those who otherwise do not have a place to do so, as well as help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on O‘ahu, the City and County of Honolulu will open its second isolation and quarantine facility at its West Loch Modular housing facility on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. The 3-story building was the first stacked modular project in the state. Starting with 26 units for isolation and quarantine, this facility has the ability to expand to more than 50 units for isolation and quarantine. This facility in ‘Ewa Beach will provide added capacity to the City’s isolation and quarantine facility currently available at Harbor Arms in ‘Aiea.

“Opening an additional isolation quarantine facility for our community on such short notice took a magnificent team effort by multiple City departments including HESD, DEM, DLM, BFS, COR and the Office of the Managing Director,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “We are opening this facility out of an abundance of caution, however we remain optimistic that the Omicron variant has peaked with an anticipated decline in the need for isolation and quarantine resources in the near future. We will continue to monitor the current conditions and consult with our leaders in healthcare as we navigate the ever-changing landscape of this COVID-19 pandemic.”

Those seeking admission into the West Loch modular housing for isolation or quarantine can call the Aloha United Way at 211, which is providing screening, however we are prioritizing patients discharged from hospitals so we can help free up hospital rooms.

“The City is providing an emergency response to the current high case numbers by helping to alleviate the strain that has been placed on our hospitals and healthcare facilities over the last two years,” said Director of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department, Dr. Jim Ireland. “We thank Aloha United Way, the North Shore Mental Health, and Banquet Solutions for making this possible. It’s through a strong partnership that we are able to help those requiring a place to isolate or quarantine, while also ensuring we best protect the City and County of Honolulu.”

Each unit is fully furnished and has its own kitchen and bathroom. The building was originally built as affordable housing for individuals and couples on O‘ahu at or below 50% of the area median income and is slated to open after its use as an isolation and quarantine facility.

The project had a price tag of $21 million. The ground floor includes a kitchen, dining room, laundry facility and an office for the property manager. It is located on 1.43 acres of city-owned land between Asing Community Park and the city-sponsored West Loch Elderly Village apartment complex.