A COVID-19 outbreak hit Gainesville-based University of Florida Health's anesthesia department earlier this month, WUFT News reported based on hospital documents and conversations with inside sources.
Four things to know:
1. Fourteen junior anesthesiology residents, two senior anesthesiology residents, a fellow and an administrative employee tested positive for COVID-19, according to a July 10 email to staff from University of Florida College of Medicine's Tim Morey, MD.
2. In his email, which was obtained by Fresh Take Florida, Dr. Morey did not mention social gatherings. The anesthesiology department chair did, however, remind hospital employees to wash their hands frequently and to stay home from work if sick.
3. The outbreak reportedly happened after employees attended a private house party. Hospital representatives declined to confirm or dispute this information. UF Health provided the following statement:
"UF Health educates its faculty, staff and students on best practices to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 on and off-duty. Our goal is to minimize the spread of the illness on our campus and in our community, recognizing that it's impossible to prevent all cases given the way pandemics naturally work."
4. UF Health's anesthesiology department includes nearly 100 residents, including 45 junior residents.