Media Reports as a Tool for Timely Monitoring of COVID-19-Related Deaths Among First Responders – United States, April 2020

Details

• Personal Author:
  Borjan M ; Burrer S ; Chiu SK ; De Perio, Marie A. ; Friedman L ; Hand J ; Harduar-Morano L ; Hong R ; Kelly-Reif K ; Laing J ; Luckhaupt SE ; McGreevy K ; Miura SS ; Oliveri A ; Richardson G ; Rinsky, Jessica L. ; Seo JY ; Sokol T ; Sparer-Fine EH ; Trotter AG
• Description:
  We aimed to describe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) deaths among first responders early in the COVID-19 pandemic. We used media reports to gather timely information about COVID-19-related deaths among first responders during March 30-April 30, 2020, and evaluated the sensitivity of media scanning compared with traditional surveillance. We abstracted information about demographic characteristics, occupation, underlying conditions, and exposure source. Twelve of 19 US public health jurisdictions with data on reported deaths provided verification, and 7 jurisdictions reported whether additional deaths had occurred; we calculated the sensitivity of media scanning among these 7 jurisdictions. We identified 97 COVID-19-related first-responder deaths during the study period through media and jurisdiction reports. Participating jurisdictions reported 5 deaths not reported by the media. Sixty-six decedents worked in law enforcement, and 31 decedents worked in fire/emergency medical services. Media reports rarely noted underlying conditions. The media scan sensitivity was 88% (95% CI, 73%-96%) in the subset of 7 jurisdictions. Media reports demonstrated high sensitivity in documenting COVID-19-related deaths among first responders; however, information on risk factors was scarce. Routine collection of data on industry and occupation could improve understanding of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality among all workers. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Communicable Diseases Demography Emergency Responders Morbidity Mortality Occupational Health Safety Workplace
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: COVID-19 Coronavirus COVID-19 Demographic Characteristics Fatalities First Responders Morbidity Rates Mortality Rates Statistical Analysis Surveillance Work Environment Workers Workplace

  More +
• ISSN:
  0033-3549
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Delaware ; Georgia ; Illinois ; Louisiana ; Massachusetts ; Michigan ; New Jersey ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 6 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DFSE - Division of Field Studies and Engineering ; EPRO - Emergency Preparedness and Response Office ; OD - Office of the Director
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  315-319
• Volume:
  136
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20062193
• Citation:
  Public Health Rep 2021 May; 136(3):315-319
• Contact Point Address:
  Kaitlin Kelly-Reif, PhD, MSPH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Field Studies and Engineering, 1090 Tusculum Ave, MS-R15, Cincinnati, OH 45226
• Email:
  kkelly-reif@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2021
• NORA Priority Area:
  Services
• Performing Organization:
  Massachusetts State Department of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Public Health Reports
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:aef8e72fe432e7f528d36780c19f211e38aead45fa8068fe9017a450ca0ae21cba25b76d7fb845e19ac03f19c9d827fc6e9758d662a0c66748d59a16e151fb80
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/225490/cdc_225490_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 238.67 KB ]