Background Healthcare workers (HCW) serving on the front lines of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have been at increased risk for infection due to SARS-CoV-2 in some settings. Healthcare-acquired infection has been reported in similar epidemics, but there are limited data on the prevalence of COVID-19 among HCWs and their associated clinical outcomes in the United States. Methods We established two high-throughput employee testing centers in Seattle, Washington with drive-through and walk-through options for symptomatic employees in the University of Washington Medicine system and its affiliated organizations. Using data from these testing centers, we report the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among symptomatic employees and describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes among employees with COVID-19. Results Between March 12 and April 23, a total of 3,477 symptomatic employees were tested for COVID-19 at two employee testing centers; 185 (5.3%) employees tested positive for COVID-19. The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 was similar when comparing frontline HCWs (5.2%) to non-frontline staff (5.5%). Among 174 positive employees reached for follow-up at least 14 days after diagnosis, 6 reported COVID-related hospitalization; all recovered. Conclusions During the study period, we observed that the prevalence of positive SARS-CoV-2 tests among symptomatic HCWs was comparable to that of symptomatic non-frontline staff. Reliable and rapid access to testing for employees is essential to preserve the health, safety, and availability of the healthcare workforce during this pandemic and to facilitate the rapid return of SARS-CoV-2 negative employees to work.

Highlights SARS-CoV-2 is an important cause of health care-acquired infection. Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection was common in this cohort of elderly individuals. Duration of PCR positivity was similar among symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Virus cycle thresholds were similar among symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.

Objectives: The first known COVID-19 outbreak in a long-term care facility in the United States was identified on February 28, 2020, in King County, Washington. That facility became the initial U.S. epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic when they discovered 129 cases associated with the outbreak (81 residents, 34 staff members, and 14 visitors) and 23 persons died. The vulnerability of the elderly population, shared living and social spaces, suboptimal infection control practices, and prolonged contact between residents were identified as contributing factors to the rapid spread of the disease. The first known case of a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak in a U.S. inpatient geriatric psychiatry unit was also in King County, Washington, and occurred soon afterward on March 11th, 2020. Between March 11 and March 18, nine inpatients and seven staff members were confirmed to have SARS-CoV-2 infection. This article examines how the swift identification and isolation of confirmed patients, an enhanced infection prevention protocol, and engagement of frontline psychiatric care staff prevented a catastrophic outcome in a vulnerable population. Methods: Here we describe infection control and nursing-led interventions that were quickly enacted in response to this SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in an inpatient geriatric psychiatry unit. Results: The interventions effectively contained the outbreak, with no further patients and only one staff member testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 over the subsequent 2-month time period. Conclusions: We share our learnings and preventative infection control measures that can be adapted to a variety of settings to prevent or contain future outbreaks of COVID-19.

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