Belgium Man Dressed As Santa Claus Believed To Be Coronavirus Super-Spreader At Nursing Home
A Mol, Belgium man, who dressed as Santa Claus to bring joy to residents at a nursing home, is believed to have brought much more as he’s now being eyed as a possible coronavirus super-spreader! After one resident’s son at the Rusthuis Hemelrijck care home decided to pay a visit dressed as Sinterklaas, the facility is now experiencing a serious outbreak of the novel virus.
The man who played St. Nick fell ill to the virus days after his visit, and at least 61 of the home’s 169 residents and 14 staff members have tested positive for the contagious respiratory virus as of Monday (Dec. 14). Reportedly, although the man indeed wore a face mask and didn’t hand out gifts or visit individual rooms, he spent most of his time in the home’s common areas where residents frequent.
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Additionally, the man’s visit and activities there are banned under Mol’s current COVID-19 restrictions, per mayor Wim Caeyers. It’s stated the man arrived without any prior notice of the visit and now management is being called out for being “totally irresponsible.” The home’s remaining residents and staff are being tested as many of those infected are apparently asymptomatic. Currently, only one resident is showing more severe symptoms needing an oxygen tank, while another, who was reportedly already receiving palliative care, has passed.
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