After the death of an employee at Kaiser Permanente’s San Jose Hospital, in the case of Kovid-19, after meeting a visitor in a Christmas tree costume, a well-intentioned holiday pick-me-up has become fatal.
Hospital officials confirmed the death in a statement to the news agency.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this horrific loss,” a Kaiser spokesman said in a statement. “We are helping our difficult employees during this difficult time.”
Officials at H Hospital Spital initially reported 44 infections at the Christmas gathering, but this will be the first casualty associated with the December 25 informal visit. All 44, including the deceased employee, were working in the emergency department that day, according to NBC Bay Area, which also described the first victim of the outbreak as a woman working as a registration clerk in the department.
No patient is believed to have been infected but officials said this week they were taking additional tests for whatever they came in contact with. Officials said staff have confirmed he is suspected of having the virus, has been told to stay home, and a thorough clean-up has been carried out in the medical center’s emergency ward, officials said.
The costume spreader of the virus was not identified outside a fellow hospital employee. However, his visit was not approved by the hospital, officials said.
Since the Covid-19 is transmissible by air, hospital officials are investigating whether the inflatable nature of the garment and its air-circulation machine could lead to further spread of infectious particles.
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