Nicholls, G; Atkinson, B; van Veldhoven, K; Nicholls, I; Coldwell, M; Clarke, A; Atchison, CJ; Raja, AI; Bennett, AM; Morgan, D; +4 more... Pearce, N; Fletcher, T; Brickley, EB; Chen, Y; (2023) An outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in a public-facing office in England. Occupational medicine. kqad100-. ISSN 0962-7480 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqad100
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with an attack rate of 55% (22/40 workers) occurred at a public-facing office in England from August to September 2021. Published evidence regarding outbreaks in office workplaces remains limited. AIMS: To describe an investigation of workplace- and worker-related risk factors following an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in a public-facing office. METHODS: The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) Outbreak Investigation to Understand Transmission (COVID-OUT) study undertook an investigation of the outbreak. This included surface sampling, occupational environmental assessment, molecular and serological testing of workers, and detailed questionnaires. RESULTS: Despite existing COVID-19 control measures, surface sampling conducted during a self-imposed 2-week temporary office closure identified viral contamination (10/60 samples, 17% positive), particularly in a small, shared security office (6/9, 67% positive) and on a window handle in one open-plan office. Targeted enhanced cleaning was, therefore, undertaken before the office reopened. Repeat surface sampling after this identified only one positive (2%) sample. Ventilation was deemed adequate using carbon dioxide monitoring (typically ≤1000 ppm). Twelve workers (30%) responded to the COVID-OUT questionnaire, and all had been vaccinated with two doses. One-third of respondents (4/12) reported direct physical or close contact with members of the public; of these, 75% (3/4) reported a divider/screen between themselves and members of the public. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the potential utility of surface sampling to identify SARS-CoV-2 control deficiencies and the importance of evolving, site-specific risk assessments with layered COVID-19 mitigation strategies.
Item Type | Article |
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Faculty and Department |
Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health > Dept of Medical Statistics Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health > Dept of Infectious Disease Epidemiology & International Health (2023-) |
PubMed ID | 38078549 |
Elements ID | 212649 |
Official URL | http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqad100 |
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