A well-intentioned choice became fatal after an employee at San Jose Kaiser Permanente Hospital died in a COVID-19 case followed back to a visitor in a Christmas tree costume.
Hospital officials confirmed the death in a statement issued to the news organization.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this terrible loss,” a Kaiser spokesman said in a statement. “We offer support to our employees at this difficult time.”
Hospital officials initially reported an outbreak of 44 infections dating back to the Christmas gathering, but this would be the first fatality associated with the December 25 informal visit. All 44, including the employee who died, had worked 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 registration officer in the department.
No patients were believed to have been infected, but officials said this weekend they would perform additional tests on anyone who was exposed. Employees confirmed or suspected of the virus are being asked to stay home, and the emergency department of the medical center has undergone a thorough cleaning, officials said.
The costume distributor of the virus was not identified beyond the fact that he was a colleague of the hospital. However, their visit was not sanctioned by the hospital, officials said.
Because COVID-19 is transmissible through the air, hospital officials are investigating whether the inflatable nature of the suit and its air circulation machine could have led to a greater spread of infectious particles.