An employee who works at a California hospital and experiences a COVID-19 outbreak that may be related to an inflatable Christmas tree costume has died of complications from the virus, according to a report.
The female registry office worked in the emergency department on Christmas Day – the same day an employee wore an “air-powered” suit to cheer the holidays at the Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center, news channel KNTV reported.
She was one of 43 staff who contracted the virus between Dec. 27 and New Year’s Day, hospital officials said.
The hospital is investigating whether the costume’s ventilator is spreading respiratory droplets exhaled by a person infected with the virus.
“Any exposure like this would have been completely harmless and quite accidental as the person had no COVID symptoms and was merely trying to cheer those around them during this very stressful time,” said Irene Chavez, senior vice president and the center’s regional manager, the San Francisco Chronicle said.
The hospital released a statement late Sunday expressing condolences to the victim’s loved ones.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this terrible loss. We are supporting our employees in this difficult time, ”the statement in the Los Angeles Times said.