Oregon coronavirus quarantines 'dozens' of Hillsboro hospital staff

[Mme. Defarge]

https://www.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/2020/03/oregon-coronavirus-quarantines-dozens-of-hillsboro-hospital-staff.html

Dozens of employees at Kaiser Permanente Westside Medical Center in Hillsboro have been quarantined after it was determined they may have had contact with the COVID-19 virus.

The first Oregonian to come down with the virus sought treatment at the facility and was eventually put into isolation. But at some point, he came into contact with unprotected employees, according Michael Foley, a spokesman for Kaiser.

Sources within local healthcare unions said as many as 70 Kaiser Westside workers were placed in quarantine. The number has been declining, Foley said, as Kaiser has determined certain employees were never exposed. Foley refused to provide additional details, including how many total employees were quarantined and exactly how many remain off duty.

"Per current CDC guidelines, people who have had contact with COVID-19 patients are asked to maintain self-isolation at home for 14 days,” said Dr. Mary E. Giswold, associate director of Kaiser’s hospital and post-acute care. “Some of our staff, including nurses and physicians, met the criteria for contact and are on furlough. The number of furloughed staff changed daily, as we began with an abundance of caution and followed with a more detailed investigation into whether contact occurred.”

The Kaiser employees will be paid during their furlough.


It is typical in a public health emergency for anyone suspected of coming into contact with the virus to place themselves in voluntary quarantine at their residence.