In this nationwide study, we estimated that more than 1 in 30 hospital workers were infected during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in France. Workers were at higher risk of infection in regions with a cumulative rate of hospitalized COVID-19 patients above the national rate, in primary or secondary hospitals, and in occupations with frequent and prolonged patient contacts. Targeted prevention campaigns should be organized.
Abstract
We launched a survey in April 2020 to assess the number and proportion of hospital workers infected during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in France, and to assess the attributable mortality. All French hospital settings (HS) were invited to declare new cases and attributable deaths by occupation category each week. Between March 1 and June 28, 2020, participating HS accounted for 69.5% of the total number of HS workers in France, and declared 31,088 infected workers; 16 died from the infection. We estimated that 3.43% (95% CI: 3.42–3.45) of French workers in HS, and 3.97% (95% CI: 3.95–3.99) of healthcare workers were infected during the first wave. Workers in regions with a cumulative rate of hospitalized COVID-19 patients equal or above the national rate, HS other than tertiary hospitals, or occupations with frequent patient contacts were particularly impacted. Targeted prevention campaigns should be elaborated.
