The Polk COVID-19 and Flu Response clinical trial: COVID-19 antibody positivity higher in Black EMS workers

Abstract

This study reports on a countywide assessment of COVID-19 positivity among emergency medical services workers. Participants completed a short survey of demographic factors and co-morbidities prior to obtaining COVID-19 and influenza testing to analyze the prevalence of these two respiratory viruses that EMS workers, being the first on the scene, are at special risk for, especially in the early days of the pandemic. A total of 7% had a positive COVID-19 antibody test. Although Black EMS personnel only comprised 9% of the cohort, they were significantly more likely to test positive for COVID-19 (P=0.0012). Black race remained a statistically significant predictor in a multivariate model that included the age, sex, BMI, number of hours of direct patient contact, whether the medic was symptomatic, presence of co-morbidities and whether or not the medic had received a flu shot prior (P=0.0008, 95% CI 0.0621-0.2354). This clinical trial (NCT04682132) ) was registered at clinicaltrials.gov, a resource provided by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.