A nursing home that was visited by a Santa who was infected with COVID-19 has sadly lost 18 residents to the virus. The man who dressed up as St. Nick for a visit to Hemelrijck care home in Mol, Belgium in December didn’t know at the time that he had the novel coronavirus but later became ill and tested positive. Sadly, the death rates at the care home began rising shortly after, VRT reports.
- The illness spread like wildfire through the home. To date, 121 residents have become infected with COVID-19 following Santa’s visit as well as 36 members of staff. Sadly, as of Christmas Day, it cost 18 residents their lives, which his incredibly sad.
- Tests have proven the infections came from a single source. While they won’t confirm that the man who dressed up as Santa to visit the care home was the source of the infection, it’s believed that he might be considering he also fell ill and was one of the very few visitors allowed at the facility.
- The man who visited the center didn’t feel unwell when he came. Bringing Santa to the care home was something staff felt would be a real morale boost for the residents who’ve been largely isolated and kept indoors for the majority of 2020. It was said that he did not feel ill before or during the visit, and Mayor Wim Caeyers described the man as the son of one of the residents and “a trusted person for the residential care center.”
- The care home is going through a very trying time at the moment. As Caeyers explained: “We’re expecting up to ten difficult days. It is a very great mental strain to bear for the man that played St Nicholas, as well as for the organizers and staff. Several laboratories are currently trying to determine the source of the infections, but I have not yet received results. Therefore, it remains uncertain at the moment.” Here’s hoping no more residents lose their lives.
