Ellie L Gilham, Amber I Raja, Karin van Veldhoven, Gillian Nicholls, Vince Sandys, Barry Atkinson, Antony Spencer, Ian Nicholls, Joan Cooke, Allan Bennett, Derek Morgan, Chris Keen, Tony Fletcher, Neil Pearce, Petra Manley, Elizabeth B Brickley, Yiqun Chen
BACKGROUND: The public order and safety (POS) sector remains susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreaks, as workplace attendance is typically compulsory and close physical contact is often needed. Here, we report on a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak with an attack rate of 39% (9/23), which occurred between 19 and 29 June 2021 among a cohort of new POS recruits participating in a mandatory 18-week training programme in England. METHODS: The COVID-OUT (COVID-19 Outbreak investigation to Understand Transmission) study team undertook a multidisciplinary outbreak investigation, including viral surface sampling, workplace environmental assessment, participant viral and antibody testing, and questionnaires, at the two associated training facilities between 5 July and 24 August 2021...
May 24, 2024: Annals of Work Exposures and Health