IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - More than 60 employees at the University of Iowa Health Care campus in Iowa City have tested positive for COVID-19, hospital administrators acknowledged.
Of the 64 employees infected to date, four tested positive Thursday, The Gazette of Cedar Rapids reported.
UI Hospitals and Clinics CEO Suresh Gunasekeran insisted the outbreak was not due to a failure in the hospital’s personal protective equipment strategy.
“When our employees have worn (personal protective equipment) with known COVID-positive patients, we are not aware of any transmission,” Gunasekeran said.
But he conceded that administrators don’t know how or where all the employees were exposed.
“It’s been so prevalent in different parts of the community that we’re just unclear,” he said.
Hospital policy asks employees to notify supervisors if they test positive for the virus or even undergo testing for it. Those who test positive are also asked to call the center before returning to work.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.