Nurse who bragged about breaking COVID-19 rules on TikTok has lost her job

ByKonstantin Toropin, Allen Kim and Leah Asmelash, CNN, CNNWire
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Federal judge postpones Trump administration ban on popular app TikTok
Federal judge postpones Trump administration ban on popular app TikTokA federal judge on Sept. 27 postponed a Trump administration order that would have banned the popular video-sharing app TikTok from U.S. smartphone app stores around midnight.

(CNN) -- An oncology nurse in Oregon who bragged about flouting COVID-19 restrictions in a TikTok video "is no longer employed with Salem Health," the hospital system confirmed to CNN.

In the video, Ashley Grames can be seen wearing scrubs and a stethoscope around her neck, pretending to scream with a caption that reads, "When my coworkers find out I still travel, don't wear a mask when I am out, and let my kids have playdates."

Grames was put on administrative leave after the video, which was posted on Nov. 27, went viral on the video sharing app. It has since been taken down, but continues to circulate through at least one other TikTok user who posted a version to their own account.

The video "displayed cavalier disregard for the seriousness of this pandemic and her indifference towards physical distancing and masking outside of work," the hospital said in a statement posted to Facebook shortly after it went viral.

Salem Health would not say whether Grames quit or was fired, and CNN was not immediately able to reach Grames for comment.

"We do not publicly discuss personnel decisions," a hospital spokesperson said.

Oregon has been experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases over the past few weeks, setting new record numbers of infections. Marion County, where Salem Health is based, has had some of the highest numbers of cases in the state.

According to the hospital network, it currently has 47 staff members quarantined, and 176 employees out of approximately 5,200 have tested positive for COVID-19.

The video featured above is from a previous report.