Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Infections Among Healthcare Workers, Los Angeles County, February-May 2020

Abstract

Across the world, healthcare workers (HCW) are at a greater risk of infection by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to the nature of their work. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LAC DPH) set out to understand the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare facilities and HCWs by tracking and analyzing data from case-patient interviews of HCWs. As of 31 May, over 3 months into the pandemic, nearly 5500 positive HCWs were reported to LAC DPH, representing 9.6% of all cases. Cases reported working in 27 different setting types, including outpatient medical offices, correctional facilities, emergency medical services, and so forth, with the highest proportion from long-term care facilities (46.6%) and hospitals (27.7%). Case patients included both clinical and nonclinical roles, with nearly half (49.4%) of positive HCWs being nurses. Over two-thirds of HCWs (68.6%) worked at some point during their infectious period, and nearly half (47.9%) reported a known exposure to a positive patient and/or coworker within their facility. Overall, compared to all LAC cases, HCWs reported lower rates of hospitalization (5.3% vs 12.2%) and death (0.7% vs 4.3%) from COVID-19. There are many factors that increase HCWs risk of infection, including high-risk work environment, limited supply of personal protective equipment, and even pressure to help and work during a pandemic. In response to these data, LAC DPH created resources and provided guidance for healthcare facilities to best protect their patients and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; infectious disease; pandemic; public health; surveillance.