Workplace Contact Patterns in England during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Analysis of the Virus Watch prospective cohort study
Workplace Contact Patterns in England during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Analysis of the Virus Watch prospective cohort study
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COVID-19 大流行期间英格兰的工作场所接触模式：Virus Watch 前瞻性队列研究分析
DOI：
10.1101/2021.12.16.21267906
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发表时间：
2021
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Beale S
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Beale S
工作场所是SARS-CoV-2暴露的重要潜在来源；然而，缺乏对工作场所接触模式的调查。本研究旨在调查英国COVID-19大流行期间不同职业的工作场所出勤率和接触特征的差异。方法数据来自受雇/自雇前瞻性队列研究参与者（n=4,616）提交的电子接触日记（2020年11月- 2021年11月）。我们使用混合模型来调查职业和时间对以下方面的影响：工作场所出勤率、共享工作空间的人数、共享工作空间所花费的时间、密切接触者人数和使用面罩的情况。工作场所出勤率和联系方式因职业和时间而异。预测白天密集空间共享的概率在医疗保健工作者（78% [95% CI: 75-81%]）和教育工作者（64%[59%-69%]）中最高，他们也有较高的密切接触者人数的概率（分别为36%[32%-40%]和38%[33%-43%]）。教育工作者在密切接触时佩戴口罩的预测概率也相对较低（51%[44%-57%]）。在所有职业群体中，在限制不太严格的阶段，工作空间共享和密切接触增加，面罩的使用减少。工作场所接触模式和口罩使用的主要差异可能导致COVID-19风险的差异。职业和限制阶段的变化模式可能为未来COVID-19或其他呼吸道流行病的干预措施提供信息。鉴于目前社区传播和变体的高水平出现，在各个职业中，工作场所接触的增加和面罩使用的减少令人担忧。资助医学研究理事会；英国政府;威康信托基金会
BackgroundWorkplaces are an important potential source of SARS-CoV-2 exposure; however, investigation into workplace contact patterns is lacking. This study aimed to investigate how workplace attendance and features of contact varied between occupations across the COVID-19 pandemic in England.MethodsData were obtained from electronic contact diaries (November 2020-November 2021) submitted by employed/self-employed prospective cohort study participants (n=4,616). We used mixed models to investigate the effects of occupation and time for: workplace attendance, number of people sharing workspace, time spent sharing workspace, number of close contacts, and usage of face coverings.FindingsWorkplace attendance and contact patterns varied across occupations and time. The predicted probability of intense space sharing during the day was highest for healthcare (78% [95% CI: 75–81%]) and education workers (64% [59%–69%]), who also had the highest probabilities for larger numbers of close contacts (36% [32%–40%] and 38% [33%–43%] respectively). Education workers also demonstrated relatively low predicted probability (51% [44%–57%]) of wearing a face covering during close contact. Across all occupational groups, workspace sharing and close contact increased and usage of face coverings decreased during phases of less stringent restrictions.InterpretationMajor variations in workplace contact patterns and mask use likely contribute to differential COVID-19 risk. Patterns of variation by occupation and restriction phase may inform interventions for future waves of COVID-19 or other respiratory epidemics. Across occupations, increasing workplace contact and reduced face covering usage is concerning given ongoing high levels of community transmission and emergence of variants.FundingMedical Research Council; HM Government; Wellcome Trust