This cross-sectional study evaluates self-reported behaviors and cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection among essential in-person employees during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic at a US institution of higher education. Key Points Question What was the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated protective behaviors among essential employees at an institution of higher education during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US? Findings In this cross-sectional study of 508 essential employees, no cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were verified by quantitative reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction, and only 2 participants had measurable seroreactive IgG antibodies. High levels of handwashing and mask wearing were reported at work and outside work, and social distancing was reported significantly less often at work than outside work. Meaning The findings suggest that compliance with protective behaviors both at work and outside work may be commensurate with the safe operation of complex work environments during a pandemic. Importance Detailed analysis of infection rates paired with behavioral and employee-reported risk factors is vital to understanding how transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection may be exacerbated or mitigated in the workplace. Institutions of higher education are heterogeneous work units that supported continued in-person employment during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing a test site for occupational health evaluation. Objective To evaluate the association between self-reported protective behaviors and prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among essential in-person employees during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study was conducted from July 13 to September 2, 2020, at an institution of higher education in Fort Collins, Colorado. Employees 18 years or older without symptoms of COVID-19 who identified as essential in-person workers during the first 6 months of the pandemic were included. Participants completed a survey, and blood and nasal swab samples were collected to assess active SARS-CoV-2 infection via quantitative reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and past infection by serologic testing. Exposure Self-reported practice of protective behaviors against COVID-19 according to public health guidelines provided to employees. Main Outcomes and Measures Prevalence of current SARS-CoV-2 infection detected by qRT-PCR or previous SARS-CoV-2 infection detected by an IgG SARS-CoV-2 testing platform. The frequency of protective behavior practices and essential workers’ concerns regarding contracting COVID-19 and exposing others were measured based on survey responses. Results Among 508 participants (305 [60.0%] women, 451 [88.8%] non-Hispanic White individuals; mean [SD] age, 41.1 [12.5] years), there were no qRT-PCR positive test results, and only 2 participants (0.4%) had seroreactive IgG antibodies. Handwashing and mask wearing were reported frequently both at work (480 [94.7%] and 496 [97.8%] participants, respectively) and outside work (465 [91.5%] and 481 [94.7%] participants, respectively). Social distancing was reported less frequently at work (403 [79.5%]) than outside work (465 [91.5%]) ( P < .001). Participants were more highly motivated to avoid exposures because of concern about spreading the infection to others (419 [83.0%]) than for personal protection (319 [63.2%]) ( P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance In this cross-sectional study of essential workers at an institution of higher education, when employees reported compliance with public health practices both at and outside work, they were able to operate safely in their work environment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
【초록키워드】 COVID-19, public health, IgG, pandemic, social distancing, cross-sectional, SARS-COV-2 infection, COVID-19 pandemic, qRT-PCR, Infection, risk factor, occupational health, Mask, Prevalence, Health, Workplace, cross-sectional study, SARS-CoV-2 testing, IgG antibodies, Compliance, Work environment, age, higher education, infection rate, women, essential worker, nasal swab, Quantitative, platform, serologic testing, Blood, Protective, association, Frequency, Analysis, exposure, employment, Safe, reverse transcriptase, test results, Chain Reaction, work environments, handwashing, Essential workers, Older, Participants, infection rates, complex, institution, measure, white, participant, Positive test, heterogeneous, finding, transmission of SARS-CoV-2, employee, responses, objective, setting, Result, collected, evaluate, significantly, reported, exacerbated, conducted, provided, supported, less, Importance, were measured, Point, Relevance, without symptom, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19, education, guideline, exposure, employee, Public, Essential,