Dozens of emergency staff members at a hospital in San Jose, California, tested positive for coronavirus last week in an outbreak that may have spread to an employee who wore an “air-powered costume” in the department on Christmas Day. hospital officials said.
Irene Chavez, senior vice president and area manager at Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center, told local news stations in an e-mailed statement that 43 emergency department workers tested positive between December 27 and January 1.
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“We will ensure that all affected employees receive the care and support they need,” said the statement, according to KTVU-TV.
Chavez said one of the infected employees appeared briefly in the department wearing an inflatable suit to spread joy over the holidays, the station reported.
“Any exposure, had it occurred, would have been completely innocent and quite accidental, as the individual had no symptoms of COVID and just sought to lift the spirits of those around him during a very stressful period,” the hospital said in the statement.
Chavez said the incident should stimulate surveillance and serve as a reminder that the virus is widespread and infected people generally have no symptoms.
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The center remains open and the emergency department is undergoing thorough cleaning, in addition to the cleaning procedures already in place for the pandemic, the hospital said.