Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].
Kaiser Permanente Hospital officials reported Saturday that between Dec. 27 and Jan. 1, 43 medical staff members in the unit's emergency department in San Jose tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, prompting an investigation into the outbreak.
Through a statement, the hospital said that in addition to the investigation, contact tracing is being used "to personally notify and evaluate any staff or patients who were exposed during this period, according to CDC and public health guidelines."
In turn, the hospital is already investigating an incident in which a staff member briefly appeared in the emergency department on Christmas Day wearing an air costume that included a fan, a situation that may have caused air droplets to spread throughout the hospital.
In response, Kaiser Permanente said it will no longer allow air disguises in any facility, according to NBC Bay Area.
While the hospital said it is open and safe for patients to receive care, it is already working to screen all of its employees and emergency department physicians for the virus that causes COVID-19.
In this regard, he said that anyone who tests positive or has symptoms of COVID-19 will be quarantined according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.
Likewise, the communiqué details that the emergency department is undergoing a thorough cleaning.
He added that although the vaccine has already begun to be administered in communities, given the prevalence of the virus, we are all still vulnerable.
That is why "it remains critical that everyone use methods to help protect ourselves and others, especially the use of masks, hand washing, avoidance of gatherings and social distancing."
