COVID-19-Associated Hospitalizations Among Health Care Personnel - COVID-NET, 13 States, March 1-May 31, 2020

Abstract

Health care personnel (HCP) can be exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), both within and outside the workplace, increasing their risk for infection. Among 6,760 adults hospitalized during March 1-May 31, 2020, for whom HCP status was determined by the COVID-19-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET), 5.9% were HCP. Nursing-related occupations (36.3%) represented the largest proportion of HCP hospitalized with COVID-19. Median age of hospitalized HCP was 49 years, and 89.8% had at least one underlying medical condition, of which obesity was most commonly reported (72.5%). A substantial proportion of HCP with COVID-19 had indicators of severe disease: 27.5% were admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU), 15.8% required invasive mechanical ventilation, and 4.2% died during hospitalization. HCP can have severe COVID-19-associated illness, highlighting the need for continued infection prevention and control in health care settings as well as community mitigation efforts to reduce transmission.

FIGURE 1

Selection of cases for analysis of COVID-19–associated hospitalizations among health care personnel (HCP) — COVID-NET, 13 states, March 1–May 31, 2020 Abbreviations: COVID-19 = coronavirus disease 2019; COVID–NET = COVID–19–Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network. * All case counts are unweighted. ^† Sites located in the following 13 states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, and Utah.

FIGURE 2

Weighted percentage of personnel types, among reported health care personnel (HCP) with COVID-19–associated hospitalizations (N = 438) — COVID–NET, 13 states, March 1–May 31, 2020 Abbreviations: CNA = certified nursing assistant; COVID-19 = coronavirus disease 2019; COVID–NET = COVID–19–Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network; EMS = emergency medical services; HR = human resources; LTCF = long-term care facility; OT = occupational therapist; PCA = patient care assistant; PT = physical therapist. * HCP categorized as “unspecified” or “other” have not been included in the figure but are included in the denominator. ^† Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals. ^§ Sites located in the following 13 states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, and Utah.