Covid outbreak among surgery staff in Limburg hospital

There was a coronavirus outbreak among surgery personnel at the Zuyderland hospital in Geleen and Heerlen. 20 employees of the operating theaters tested positive for Covid-19. The most infections are at the Geleen location, 1Limburg reports.

Three surgeons are among the infected hospital staff. One of them was admitted to the intensive care unit of their own hospital.

About 190 people in total work in the surgery departments of the Zyderland hospital, chairman David Jongen told 1 Limburg. All of them were tested by health service GGD Zud-Limburg after the first person started showing symptoms. "Of this group, 20 people turned out to be infected. They were sent home immediately."

According to Jongen, there are no indications that hospital workers infected patients with the coronavirus.

Two of the hospital's 19 operating rooms have been closed due to the infections, but the situation is still under control, Jongen said. "To indicate the difference: in April we had 17 ORs closed and two ORs open."

All emergency care can continue as usual, Jongen said.