COVID-19 test positivity by occupation using the Delphi US COVID-19 trends and impact survey, September-November 2020.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Cox-Ganser, Jean M. ; Groth CP ; Guthrie G ; Henneberger, Paul K. ; Weissman, David N.
• Description:
  Background: The potential for work to be a risk factor for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was recognized early in the pandemic based on the likelihood of work- related differences in exposures to COVID-19 in different occupations. Due to intense demands of the pandemic, implementation of recommendations to collect information on occupation in relation to COVID-19 has been uneven across the United States. The objective of this study was to investigate COVID-19 test positivity by occupation. Methods: We analyzed data collected from September 8 to November 30, 2020, by the Delphi Group at Carnegie Mellon University US COVID-19 Trends and Impact Survey, offered daily to a random sample of US-based Facebook users aged 18 years or older, who were invited via a banner in their news feed. Our focus was ever testing positive for COVID-19 in respondents working outside the home for pay in the past 4 weeks. Results: The major occupational groups of "Production", "Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance," "Construction and extraction," "Healthcare support," and "Food preparation and serving" had the five highest test positivity percentages (16.7%-14.4%). Highest detailed occupational categories (28.6%-19.1%) were "Massage therapist," "Food processing worker," "Bailiff, correctional officer, or jailer," "Funeral service worker," "First-line supervisor of production and operating workers," and "Nursing assistant or psychiatric aide." Differences in test positivity by occupation remained after adjustment for age, gender, and pre-existing medical conditions. Conclusion: Information on differences in test positivity by occupation can aid targeting of messaging for vaccination and testing and mitigation strategies for the current and future respiratory infection epidemics and pandemics. These results, obtained before availability of COVID-19 vaccines, can form a basis for comparison to evaluate impacts of vaccination and subsequent emergence of viral variants. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aging Communicable Diseases Construction Industry Correctional Facilities Environmental Exposure Food Handling Food Industry Health Personnel Men Occupational Health Respiratory Tract Diseases Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Women Workplace

  More +
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: COVID-19; Detailed Occupation; Major Occupation; Test Positivity COVID-19; Workers; Work Environment; Exposure Levels; Risk Factors; Sampling; Groundskeeping Workers; Construction; Health Care Personnel; Food Services; Correctional Facilities; Nursing; Age Groups; Humans; Men; Women; Statistical Analysis; Vaccines; Respiratory System Disorders;
• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  RHD - Respiratory Health Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  65
• Issue:
  9
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20065583
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2022 Sep; 65(9):721-730
• Contact Point Address:
  Jean M. Cox-Ganser, PhD, Respiratory Health Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, MS H2900, 1000 Frederick Ln, Morgantown, WV 26508, USA
• Email:
  jjc8@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:4cd4d09e1e88f990ec3d06cbc30a7ad23aff1bc0f79ee6a03197678a9912bec3b9b99ae3aa5be85cb171717f423e8f858b4116ae41b02d2dd52fd2c5f16f2e7d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/248827/cdc_248827_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 620.11 KB ]