An employee wearing an inflatable Christmas tree costume accidentally spread Covid-19 throughout a Hospital in California. According to ABC-7 News, one person has died and at least 43 employees have tested positive for the virus after this unintentional super-spreader event.

In a statement from the Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center, the costume had two air-circulating fans that may have spread infected droplets around.

The first case was detected on December 27, and a total of 44 people have tested positive for COVID-19. The one individual who died was a registration clerk in the ER, according to NBC Bay Area.

Senior vice president Irene Chavez said, “Any exposure, if it occurred, would have been completely innocent, and quite accidental, as the individual had no COVID symptoms and only sought to lift the spirits of those around them during what is a very stressful time.”

“If anything, this should serve as a very real reminder that the virus is widespread, and often without symptoms, and we must all be vigilant,” she added. Chaves also addressed the infected individual in the costume, saying they were “well-intentioned” but acted “without advance notice or approval.”

Infected staff remain in isolation and are being closely monitored.