RESUMO
ObjectivesThe objective of our study was to estimate the rate of workplace outbreak-associated cases of COVID-19 by industry in labour market participants aged 15-69 years who reported working the majority of hours outside the home in Ontario, Canada. MethodsWe conducted a population based cross-sectional study of COVID-19 workplace outbreaks and associated-cases reported in Ontario between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021. All outbreaks were manually classified into two digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. We obtained denominator data from the Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey in order to estimate the incidence of outbreak-associated cases per 100,000,000 hours amongst individuals who reported the majority of hours were worked outside the home. We performed this analysis across industries and in three distinct time periods. ResultsOverall, 12% of cases were attributed to workplace outbreaks among working age adults across our study period. While incidence varied across the time periods, the five industries with the highest incidence rates across our study period were agriculture; healthcare and social assistance; food manufacturing; educational services; and, transportation and warehousing. ConclusionsCertain industries have consistently increased incidence of COVID-19 over the course of the pandemic. These results may assist in ongoing efforts to reduce transmission of COVID-19, by prioritizing resources, as well as industry-specific guidance, vaccination, and public health messaging.
RESUMO
BackgroundRacialized and low income communities face disproportionally high rates of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infection and death. However, data on inequities in COVID-19 across granular categories of socio-demographic characteristics is more sparse. MethodsNeighbourhood-level counts of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Ontario, Canada recorded as of July 28th, 2020 were extracted from provincial and local reportable infectious disease surveillance systems. Associations between COVID-19 incidence and mortality and 18 neighbourhood-level measures of immigration, race, housing and socio-economic characteristics were estimated with Poisson generalized linear mixed models. Housing characteristic variables were subsequently added to models to explore if housing may have a confounding influence on the relationships between immigration, race, and socio-economic status and COVID-19 incidence. ResultsThere were large inequities in COVID-19 incidence and mortality across the socio-demographic variables examined. Neighbourhoods having a higher proportion immigrants, racialized populations, large households and low socio-economic status were associated with COVID-19 risk. Adjusting for housing characteristics, especially unsuitably crowded housing, attenuated COVID-19 risks. However persistent risk remained for neighbourhoods having high proportions of immigrants, racialized populations, and proportion of Black, Latin American, and South Asian residents. ConclusionsSocio-demographic factors account for some of the neighbourhood-level differences in COVID-19 across Ontario. Housing characteristics account for a portion, but not all, of the excess burden of COVID-19 experienced by immigrant, racialized, low income and low education populations.
RESUMO
IntroductionWorkplaces requiring in-person attendance of employees for ongoing operations may be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks that impact workers as well as their close contacts. To understand industry sectors impacted by workplace outbreaks in the first wave of the pandemic, and the additional burden of illness through household transmission, we analyzed public health declared workplace outbreaks between January 21 to June 30, 2020, and their associated cases from January 21 to July 28. MethodsNumber, size and duration of outbreaks were described by sector, and outbreak cases were compared to sporadic cases in the same time frame. Address matching identified household cases with onset [≥]2 days before, [≥]2 days after, or within 1 day of the workplace outbreak case. ResultsThere were 199 outbreaks with 1245 cases, and 68% of outbreaks and 80% of cases belonged to i) Manufacturing, ii) Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Hunting, iii) Transportation and Warehousing. Median size of outbreaks was 3 cases (range: 1-140), and lasted median 7days (range: 0-119). Outbreak cases were significantly more likely to be male, younger, healthier, and have better outcomes. There were 608 household cases associated with 339 (31%) outbreak cases with valid addresses, increasing the burden of illness by 56%. The majority of household cases (368, 60%) occurred after the outbreak case. ConclusionsWorkplace outbreaks primarily occurred in three sectors. COVID-19 prevention measures should target industry sectors at risk by preventing introduction from exposed employees, spread in the workplace, and spread outside of the workplace. What is already known about this topic?COVID-19 outbreaks occur within workplaces and can spread to the community What is added by this report?From January 21 - June 30, 2020, there were 199 workplace outbreaks in Ontario, Canada; 68% of outbreaks and 80% of outbreak-associated COVID-19 case were in three industry sectors: Manufacturing, Agriculture/Forestry/Fishing/Hunting, and Transportation/Warehousing. Household transmission occurred among 31% of outbreak cases, resulting in a 56% increase in workplace outbreak-associated cases when burden of household transmission is considered. What are the implications for public health practice?Workplace outbreak prevention measures should be targeted to industry sectors at risk by preventing introduction from exposed employees, spread in the workplace, and transmission to the greater community.
