Health care workers at Memorial Hospital in Santa Rosa held a demonstration outside the facility Wednesday to protest the hospital's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Caregivers contend they are not being adequately protected.
Around two dozen workers along with two Sonoma County supervisors gathered to protest the conditions at the hospital. Workers said management isn't being transparent about positive cases among the staff and what they feel is lack of available PPE.
Mito Gonzales is a Lab Tech and Phlebotomist who's worked at Memorial for almost 25 years. He alleged the hospital told workers that weren't symptomatic told to come to work anyway.
"The hospital knew there were people that were positive that weren’t showing symptoms," Gonzales said. "But instead of paying the money to have everybody tested, no, get back to work. Now, as of this morning, another outbreak."
Tyler Hedden, Chief Executive at Memorial, told KCBS Radio the hospital's safety measure are thorough for patients and staff, and consistent with CDC and County guidelines
"The number one thing in prevention is making sure that if you’re sick you stay home," Hedden added.
Hedden admitted that PPE was scarce at the outset of the pandemic, but said the hospital has now built an adequate supply.
In total, 26 caregivers and four patients have tested positive for COVID-19.