A California hospital faces a potential $ 43,000 fine from county health officials over alleged delays in reporting a Covid-19 super-distributor associated with an inflatable Christmas tree costume.
Health giant Kaiser Permanente on Tuesday denied that the Covid-19 cases in connection with a Christmas party in the San Jose Medical Center’s emergency department were delayed.
“The suggestion that we are anything other than the advent of our reporting is inaccurate,” Kaiser Permanente said in a statement to NBC News, adding that it’s consistent communication with various state and local agencies on COVID-19 cases maintained at our facilities. ‘
The fine issued last Tuesday is $ 1,000 for each delayed report of a positive case, but since early January, the number of infections associated with the Christmas event has risen from 43 to more than 90.
As of Tuesday, health officials in the province said they had counted 77 people and 15 patient cases in connection with the event. One staff member has died.
The Department of Public Health in Santa Clara Province said it was unaware of the first 43 cases until news reports last week.
“Kaiser Permanente has failed to report any of these cases in the County’s Worksite Case and Contact Reporting Portal, as required by the Public Health Order issued on October 5,” the department said in a statement.
Earlier this month, Kaiser Permanente said the inflatable Christmas tree costume, although not yet definitively linked to the outbreak, was an innocent gesture by provincial health officials who ‘only tried to arouse the spirit of those around them. during a very stressful time. . “
The organization said it was reviewing the quote in Santa Clara County and would respond before the deadline on Friday.
According to the California Department of Public Health, there are intensive care units in Bay Area Hospital is more than 95 percent full from Tuesday.
Over the past few days, as the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases rapidly approaches only 3 million in California, Governor Gavin Newsom has received increasing criticism for a slow implementation of coronavirus vaccinations in the state.
