A hospital in California is facing an outbreak of coronavirus among its employees, which may be linked to an inflatable suit worn at Christmas to cheer up patients.
At least 43 team members tested positive for the virus between December 27 and New Year’s Day, according to a statement from the Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center on Saturday. The hospital’s emergency department has been thoroughly cleaned and all infected employees are isolating themselves while infected.
The hospital is investigating whether the fan in an “air-powered costume” could have spread drops after a staff member briefly used it in the emergency department on Christmas Day.
“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 time,” said the hospital.
The Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center will no longer allow such fantasies on its premises, the statement said.
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Kaiser Permanente Hospital in San Jose, California (Google Maps)
Emergency department workers at the Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center who managed to obtain the Covid-19 vaccine received only the first inoculation days before Christmas Day and would not have achieved immunity at the time of the incident.
None would have received their second booster injection on Christmas Day.
“During this period, even when the vaccine is beginning to be delivered in our communities, it is crucial that everyone continues to protect themselves and others, continuing to wear masks, washing their hands, avoiding meetings and practicing social detachment,” said hospital. .
None of the positive test team members will return to work, although the hospital has said it has hired more staff as part of its preparations.
California hospitals have been overwhelmed with cases in recent weeks amid a new outbreak of the virus, which has brought a record number of deaths and daily hospitalizations.
The state’s Bay Area has only 5.1% availability in its intensive care units. Southern California is plagued by hospitalizations, with no beds available in many of its hospitals, as the team creates makeshift units in gift shops or pediatric wards.
California recorded 2,345,909 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with more than 26,000 deaths, according to figures released by the state public health department on Saturday.
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