California hospital fined over Covid outbreak over inflatable Christmas costume

California hospital faces potential fine of $ 43,000 from county health officials for alleged delays in reporting Covid-19 super-spreader event linked to inflatable Christmas tree costume .

Health giant Kaiser Permanente on Tuesday denied any delay in reporting Covid-19 cases linked to a Christmas party to the emergency department at its San Jose medical center.

“The suggestion that we do not agree with our reporting is incorrect,” Kaiser Permanente said in a statement to NBC News, adding that he had “maintained consistent communications with several state and local agencies regarding cases of COVID-19 in our facilities. “

The fine passed last Tuesday is $ 1,000 for every delayed report of a positive case, but since early January the number of infections linked to the Christmas event has risen from 43 to more than 90.

County health officials said on Tuesday they had counted 77 staff and 15 patient cases linked to the event. A member of staff has died.

The Santa Clara County Public Health Department said it was not aware of the first 43 cases until reports last week.

“Kaiser Permanente did not report any of these cases in the county’s site contact and case reporting portal, as required by the Oct. 5 public health order,” the department said. in a press release.

Earlier this month, Kaiser Permanente said the inflatable Christmas tree costume – though still not definitively linked to the outbreak, county health officials have clarified – was an innocent move who “ was only looking to boost the morale of those around them during a very stressful time. . “

The organization said it was reviewing the Santa Clara County citation and would respond by Friday’s deadline.

According to the California Department of Public Health, the intensive care units at Bay Area Hospital are more than 95% full from Tuesday on.

In recent days, as the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 rapidly approaches 3 million in California alone, Governor Gavin Newsom has received increasing criticism for the slow rollout of coronavirus vaccines in the country. ‘State.