According to USA Today on the 4th, a hospital worker in an inflatable Christmas tree costume may have triggered a “super spread incident”. Since the first case was discovered on December 27, the hospital has died and more than 40 other employees have been infected.
The staffer was wearing this “air-powered” costume, which contained two air circulation fans, which could cause droplets containing the virus to spread through the air, according to a statement from the Kaiser Medical Center in San Jose, California.
The hospital’s vice president, Erin Chávez, said the incident was “a very unusual situation in which a kind staff member acted alone without the approval of the supervisor.
If (making anyone) exposed to the virus, it is completely innocent and quite unexpected. This person has no symptoms of COVID-19 and just wants to cheer up those around him during stressful times.”
Chávez said that hospitals have stressed to employees that equipment such as aerodynamic clothing are not allowed to be used.
Hospitals are taking steps to strengthen staff safety precautions, including keeping distance, prohibiting gathering in lounges, sharing food or drinks, and requiring masks to be worn at all times.
“We are using protocols that have been proven to be infected to investigate outbreaks and to use contact tracing protocols specifically to notify and test staff or patients who have been exposed to the virus,” Chávez said.
Chávez stressed that “the emergency department is undergoing a deep cleaning, and the hospital is open and safe for patients.
All healthcare workers will be tested for COVID-19 weekly, and anyone with symptoms or contact with COVID-19 patients will be scheduled to be tested as soon as possible. Employees diagnosed with symptoms or suspected of contracting the novel coronavirus will not come to work.
We will ensure that every affected employee receives the care and support they need. The health and safety of patients, employees and doctors is our top priority.”
California weathered the worst peak of the pandemic early in the pandemic, but now the number of infections has gotten out of control, the report said.
California has frequently broken new records for infections and deaths despite the strictest restrictions in the country.
At the beginning of the new year, the state reported a record 585 deaths in a single day.
