A well-intentioned holiday pickup has turned deadly after an employee of San Jose del Kaiser Permanent Hospital died due to a COVID-19 case dating back to a visitor in an exploded Christmas tree costume .
Hospital officials confirmed the death in a statement provided to this news organization.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this terrible loss,” a Kaiser spokesman said in the statement. “We are supporting our employees at this difficult time.”
Hospital officials initially reported an outbreak of 44 infections dating back to the Christmas meeting, but this would be the first fatality associated with the December 25 informal visit. All 44, including the employee who died, had been working in the emergency department that day, according to NBC Bay Area, which also described the first victim of the outbreak as a woman who worked as a registry clerk in the department.
No patients are believed to be infected, but officials said this weekend that they were conducting additional tests for anyone who had been exposed. Confirmed or suspected employees who have the virus are being asked to stay home and the medical center’s emergency room has been thoroughly cleaned, officials said.
The disseminator disguised as the virus was not identified beyond being a hospital collaborator. However, his visit was not sanctioned by the hospital, officials said.
Because COVID-19 is airborne, hospital officials are investigating whether the inflatable nature of the suit and its air circulation machine could have caused further spread of infectious particles.