Officials at Kaiser Hospital announced Saturday that 43 emergency personnel at the Kaiser Permanent San Jose tested positive for COVID-19 between Dec. 27 and Jan. 1.
On Sunday, the hospital confirmed that an additional person tested positive and the total was 44.
The hospital is investigating whether an incident in which a staff member briefly appeared at the emergency department on Christmas Day in a fan-powered costume with air can have caused air drops to spread through the hospital.
“Using our infection-tested protocols, we are investigating the outbreak and using contact tracking to personally notify and test any staff or patients who have been exposed during this time period based on CDC and public health guidelines.” , a spokesman said in a statement.
The hospital says it will no longer allow air disguises in any facility.
Kaiser said the employee wearing the costume showed no symptoms at the time and was only trying to lift his spirits during a stressful time. But an emergency employee who asked not to identify us said there may be another reason for the outbreak.
“They were doing respiratory treatments inside a room that they weren’t supposed to do,” the employee said.
The hospital said the emergency department is conducting a thorough clean-up and officials said the hospital is open and safe so patients can receive care.
But the employee said Kaiser’s claim that they were doing a thorough cleaning of the department after the outbreak was false.
“That’s a lie,” the employee said. “All they did was go in and do a deep cleaning of the small rest room. They did not do the other parts of the emergency service and there was no deep cleaning. “
The hospital is working to quickly test the virus on all emergency department employees and doctors and anyone who tests positive or has symptoms will be quarantined according to guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, officials said. hospital.
“Although the vaccine is beginning to be provided in our communities, given the prevalence of COVID-19 in the community, we are still vulnerable and it remains critical that everyone continue to use the methods to help protect ourselves and to others, especially masks, to wash their hands, avoid meetings and distance themselves socially, ”the statement said.
Kaiser said some of the infected health workers had received the first dose of the COVID vaccine, but would not have been expected to achieve immunity when the exposure occurred.
However, several health workers told the NBC Bay Area that they do not believe the hospital is doing enough to protect them.
On Sunday, the Santa Clara County Department of Health issued a statement about the outbreak.
“The Department of Public Health is aware and is currently investigating a major outbreak of COVID-19 associated with the Kaiser San Jose Emergency Service,” the statement said. issued by Cal / OSHA. This includes timely notification of cases and all necessary follow-up. “