Inflatable costume could be the cause of the Covid epidemic at the California hospital

A California hospital is facing a coronavirus outbreak among its staff that could be linked to an inflatable costume worn at Christmas to boost patient morale.

At least 43 staff members tested positive for the virus between Dec. 27 and New Year’s Day, according to a statement from Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center on Saturday. The hospital emergency department has been thoroughly cleaned and all infected staff self-isolate when infected.

The hospital is investigating whether the ventilator in a “compressed air suit” could have spilled droplets after a staff member briefly brought him to the emergency room on Christmas Day.

“Any exposure, if it had occurred, would have been completely innocent and completely accidental, as the individual had no symptoms of COVID and was only seeking to cheer up those around him for a period of time. very stressful, ”the hospital said.

Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center will no longer allow such costumes in its facilities, the statement said.

Employees of the emergency department at Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center who were able to get vaccinated against Covid-19 only received their first inoculation a few days before Christmas Day and would not have achieved immunity by the time of the incident.

None of them would have had their second encore on Christmas Day.

“During this time, even as the vaccine begins to be provided in our communities, it is crucial that everyone continues to protect themselves and each other by continuing to use masks, to wash their hands, to avoid rallies and practicing social distancing, ”the hospital said. .

None of the staff who test positive will return to work, although the hospital has said it has hired additional staff as part of its preparations.

California hospitals have been inundated with cases in recent weeks amid a new wave of the virus, which has resulted in a record number of deaths and daily hospitalizations.

The Bay Area of ​​the state has only 5.1% availability in its intensive care units. Southern California is plagued by hospitalizations with no beds available at many of its hospitals as staff create makeshift units in souvenir shops or pediatric wards.

California has recorded 2,345,909 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, with more than 26,000 deaths, according to figures released by the state public health department on Saturday.