A troubling COVID-19 outbreak at a California hospital has reportedly resulted in the infection of 43 emergency room workers and the tragic death of one staff member. Investigators are exploring the possibility that an inflatable Christmas tree costume worn by a hospital employee contributed to the spread of the virus during the holiday season.
As reported by NBC Bay Area, the costume was donned by an asymptomatic employee at Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center on Christmas Day. The costume, which featured a whimsical design with a red nose and oversized eyes, was equipped with a fan that may have dispersed respiratory droplets in the emergency room.
Marianne Favro, a reporter for NBC Bay Area, shared a photo of the costume on Twitter, noting, “This is the air powered costume an employee wore in the Emergency Dept. of Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center Xmas day to spread cheer. Turns out the employee unknowingly had COVID, now 43 employees have COVID. Kaiser investigating if costume blower helped spread the virus.“
The New York Times highlighted that emergency room staff present when the costume was worn began testing positive for the virus on December 27. While the hospital has not disclosed whether any patients were infected, it has prohibited air-powered costumes within its facility moving forward.
A representative from the hospital, Irene Chavez, stated that the costume could be a potential source of the outbreak but emphasized that any possible transmission was unintentional, as the employee aimed to brighten the spirits of colleagues during a challenging time. The emergency department is set to undergo thorough cleaning, and staff members will be provided with complimentary weekly COVID-19 testing.
In Santa Clara County, where the hospital is located, there are currently 691 patients hospitalized due to COVID-19, with only 10 percent of ICU beds remaining available due to the surge in cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the virus is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets, with the costume’s fan potentially acting as a means to spread those droplets further.
Chavez also mentioned that the hospital is proactively testing all emergency department employees for COVID-19 and ensuring that anyone showing symptoms or confirmed cases will not return to work.
As information regarding COVID-19 continues to evolve, it’s essential for readers to stay informed through local public health resources, the Centers for Disease Control, and the World Health Organization. For further insights, check out our other blog posts here and learn more about at-home insemination kits here from a trusted source. For those interested in genetics and IVF, this resource is highly recommended.
Search Queries:
- Inflatable costume COVID outbreak
- Emergency room COVID-19 transmission
- Asymptomatic COVID-19 spread
- Christmas costume safety guidelines
- Hospital COVID-19 prevention measures
Summary:
A COVID-19 outbreak at a California hospital has resulted in 43 infections among emergency room staff, with one fatality. Investigators are looking into the role of an inflatable Christmas tree costume worn by an asymptomatic employee during the holiday season as a potential source of transmission. The hospital has since banned such costumes and is implementing testing and cleaning protocols to ensure safety.