Risks of COVID-19 by occupation in NHS workers in England

Abstract

ObjectiveTo quantify occupational risks of COVID-19 among healthcare staff during the first wave (9 March 2020–31 July 2020) of the pandemic in England.MethodsWe used pseudonymised data on 902 813 individuals employed by 191 National Health Service trusts to explore demographic and occupational risk factors for sickness absence ascribed to COVID-19 (n=92 880). We estimated ORs by multivariable logistic regression.ResultsWith adjustment for employing trust, demographic characteristics and previous frequency of sickness absence, risk relative to administrative/clerical occupations was highest in ‘additional clinical services’ (care assistants and other occupations directly supporting those in clinical roles) (OR 2.31 (2.25 to 2.37)), registered nursing and midwifery professionals (OR 2.28 (2.23 to 2.34)) and allied health professionals (OR 1.94 (1.88 to 2.01)) and intermediate in doctors and dentists (OR 1.55 (1.50 to 1.61)). Differences in risk were higher after the employing trust had started to care for documented patients with COVID-19, and were reduced, but not eliminated, following additional adjustment for exposure to infected patients or materials, assessed by a job-exposure matrix. For prolonged COVID-19 sickness absence (episodes lasting >14 days), the variation in risk by staff group was somewhat greater.ConclusionsAfter allowance for possible bias and confounding by non-occupational exposures, we estimated that relative risks for COVID-19 among most patient-facing occupations were between 1.5 and 2.5. The highest risks were in those working in additional clinical services, nursing and midwifery and in allied health professions. Better protective measures for these staff groups should be a priority. COVID-19 may meet criteria for compensation as an occupational disease in some healthcare occupations.Trial registration numberISRCTN36352994.

The Effects of COVID-19 on Healthcare Workers and Non-Healthcare Workers in Mexico: 14 Months into the Pandemic

“…The results obtained indicate that working in the health sector during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico constituted a greater risk of infection and death. These data are consistent with those reported by Van der Plaat et al [35], who found that HCWs who worked with infected patients had a higher risk of infection than HCWs who did not have direct contact with COVID-19 patients did.…”

Seroprevalence in health care workers during the later phase of the second wave: Results of three hospitals in Serbia, prior to vaccine administration

“…Long-term contact exclusively with COVID-19 patients, as well as the possibility of losing attention and non-compliance with protection measures, may have caused the highest prevalence of positive staff in COVID hospital. Higher seroprevalence among personnel delivering direct care to COVID-19 patients than among those with lower exposure has been observed in other studies, [17] , [18] . However, SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence among HCWs in the COVID dedicated hospital was lower than the prevalence in the Spanish referral hospital obtained at the beginning of the pandemic, during the peak of the first wave [19] , but higher than overall seroprevalence among more than 6 thousand employees in 17 hospitals in this country [20] .…”

A Method for Preventing Aerosols During Dental Treatment With an Oroscope

“…In the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic, dental treatment is stressful for both patients and dental healthcare professionals [10][11][12]. By using the "KS system," dentists may lower the transmission of aerosol infections and reduce the stress and anxiety of potentially contracting an infection during dental procedures.…”