Santa Claus infects residents and staff with coronavirus at Belgium care home

Authorities in Mol, Antwerp, are investigating an incident after residents and some members of staff at the Hemelrijck residential home tested positive for COVID-19, following a Christmas visit from Santa Claus.

Flemish broadcaster VRT is reporting the number of coronavirus infections throughout the home has reached 75, including 14 staff.

The visitor to the care home was dressed as Sinterklaas (Santa Claus) and later fell ill. He was tested positive for coronavirus, causing authorities to test the residents in the home.

The mayor of Mol Wim Caeyers told the Fleminsh broadcaster VRT: "It has been a very black day for the care home.” The visit was "made with the best intent, but it went wrong.

"It is a very great mental strain to bear for the man that played St Nicholas, as well as for the organisers and the staff."

Care home staff hoped the visit would boost morale among residents and Sinterklaas reportedly did not feel unwell before the visit.

According to the authorities in Antwerp, the residents and staff who fell ill are only suffering mild to moderate symptoms.

Council workers, the Red Cross and the governor of Antwerp Province have been drafted in to help bring the virus under control.

In a press statement, the municipal authorities in Mol said Sinterklaas had "visited various communal areas such as the sitting room.

"He kept his distance from the residents and wore a face covering. The residents also wore face coverings."

However, photos obtained by VRT showed residents were without masks.

The mayor, Mr Caeyers said: "Initially [Hemelrijck residential home] said that the rules had been followed, but then straight away you receive photos from the families of residents where you can see that this wasn't the case."

Jannes Verheyen, a spokesperson for Armonea, the firm which runs the home, told The Brussels Times: "The team is very shocked by what happened, but that also makes them very motivated to get the virus out again."