An outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in a public-facing office in England, 2021

Atkinson, Barry; Veldhoven, Karin van; Nicholls, Ian; Coldwell, Matthew; Clarke, Adam R.; Frost, Gillian; Atchison, Christina; Raja, Amber I.; Bennett, Allan; Morgan, Derek; Pearce, Neil; Fletcher, Tony; Brickley, Elizabeth B; Chen, Yiqun

doi:10.1101/2022.01.31.22269194

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…A similar trend was seen with samples identified as ‘suspected positive’ with 8.3-18.4% of samples collected at the first five sites (March-June 2021) whereas no site was identified with more than 2.4% of samples as suspected positive after June 2021. The outlier in terms of positive samples was the first of two visits to Site 008 (September 2021) where 16.7% of samples were positive; this investigation was conducted at the start of a rise in community cases associated with the Delta variant in a workplace with a 55% attack rate among the workforce (Atkinson et al ., 2022).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surface sampling for SARS-CoV-2 in workplace outbreak settings in the UK, 2021-22

Nicholls¹,

Spencer²,

Chen

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Aims: To utilise environmental surface sampling to evaluate areas of SARS-CoV-2 contamination within workplaces to identify trends and improve local COVID-control measures. Methods and Results: Surface sampling was undertaken at 12 workplaces that experienced a cluster of COVID-19 cases in the workforce between March 2021 and March 2022. 7.4% (61/829) of samples collected were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by qPCR with only 1.8% (15/829) of samples identified with crossing threshold (Ct) values below 35.0. No sample returned whole genome sequence inferring RNA detected was degraded. Conclusions: Few workplace surface samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA and positive samples typically contained low levels of nucleic acid. Although these data may infer a low probability of fomite transmission or other forms of transmission within the workplace, Ct values may have been lower at the time of contamination. Workplace environmental sampling identified lapses in COVID-control measures within individual sites and showed trends through the pandemic. Significance and Impact of the Study: Prior to this study, few published reports investigated SARS-CoV-2 RNA contamination within workplaces experiencing cases of COVID-19. This report provides extensive data on environmental sampling identifying trends across workplaces and through the pandemic.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surface sampling for SARS-CoV-2 in workplace outbreak settings in the UK, 2021-22

Nicholls¹,

Spencer²,

Chen

et al. 2023

Preprint

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“…This outbreak investigation in a large meat-processing plant was part of the COVID-OUT study that involved on-the-ground investigations of twelve COVID-19 outbreaks in a range of workplace settings including manufacturing [17,18], warehousing and distribution and public-facing offices [19]. These investigations used the previously published COVID-OUT study protocol [20] to systematically evaluate workplace COVID-19 outbreaks as soon as reasonably practicable when an outbreak was identified.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Two engineers tested positive for COVID-19, with one engineer testing positive four days before and the other engineer two days after the surface sampling, which may reflect the incidence in this location. However, these findings might only indicate the presence of infectious individuals in that environment and potential deficiencies in the surface cleaning rather than an indication that the workshop was a site of workplace transmission [19]. A 2020 sampling study assessed SARS-CoV-2 contamination of air and surface in a large Dutch meat-processing plant that was experiencing COVID-19 clusters.…”

Section: Surface Contaminationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly transmissible virus that has caused a pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID- 19). SARS-CoV-2 virus can spread directly or indirectly from person to person primarily through respiratory droplets and aerosols, and can be spread by asymptomatic, pre-symptomatic and symptomatic individuals [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A COVID-19 Outbreak in a Large Meat-Processing Plant in England: Transmission Risk Factors and Controls

Chen,

Beattie,

Simpson

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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The meat-processing industry had frequent COVID-19 outbreaks reported worldwide. In May 2021, a large meat-processing plant in the UK had an outbreak affecting 4.1% (63/1541) of workers. A rapid on-site investigation was conducted to understand the virus transmission risk factors and control measures. This included observational assessments of work activities, control measures, real-time environmental measurements and surface microbial sampling. The production night-shift attack rate (11.6%, 44/380) was nearly five times higher than the production day-shift (2.4%, 9/380). Shared work transport was provided to 150 staff per dayshift and 104 per nightshift. Production areas were noisy (≥80 dB(A)) and physical distancing was difficult to maintain. Face visors were mandatory, additional face coverings were required for some activities but not always worn. The refrigeration system continuously recirculated chilled air. In some areas, the mean temperature was as low as 4.5 °C and mean relative humidity (RH) was as high as 96%. The adequacy of ventilation in the production areas could not be assessed reliably using CO2, due to the use of CO2 in the packaging process. While there were challenges in the production areas, the observed COVID-19 control measures were generally implemented well in the non-production areas. Sixty surface samples from all areas were tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA and 11.7% were positive. Multi-layered measures, informed by a workplace specific risk assessment, are required to prevent and control workplace outbreaks of COVID-19 or other similar respiratory infectious diseases.

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A SARS-CoV-2 outbreak investigation at a storage and distribution centre in England: an assessment of worker- and workplace-related risk factors

Raja,

Nicholls,

Coldwell

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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An outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 (1 March to 10 May 2021) with an attack rate of 26.5% among approximately 1150 workers at a storage and distribution centre in England prompted a multidisciplinary outbreak investigation (5 May to 6 August 2021), with the aim of better understanding worker- and workplace-related risk factors for viral transmission in the warehousing sector. Overall, environmental factors (e.g., ventilation, humidity and temperature) were assessed to be appropriate at the facility. Nevertheless, 39 (51.3%) surface samples from across the site tested positive for low/ very low levels of SARS-CoV-2 RNA (Ct value ≥ 32.0 for all). Among the study participants, of whom 35.6% were confirmed or suspected cases, 95.5% reported having received COVID-19 prevention training, 100.0% reported handwashing, and 80.0% reported use of face coverings at work. Notably, 43.9% and 19.0% reported working with a symptomatic and a positive contact respectively. Furthermore, 80.5% and 46.3% had concerns regarding reduction in their income and future unemployment, respectively, due to self-isolation. The findings of this study suggest that, in addition to targeted workplace infection control measures and tailored work area specific risk assessments, an enhanced and equitable sick leave policy may help limit presenteeism and viral transmission in large workplaces.

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An outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in a public-facing office in England, 2021

Cited by 3 publications

References 10 publications

Surface sampling for SARS-CoV-2 in workplace outbreak settings in the UK, 2021-22

Surface sampling for SARS-CoV-2 in workplace outbreak settings in the UK, 2021-22

A COVID-19 Outbreak in a Large Meat-Processing Plant in England: Transmission Risk Factors and Controls

A SARS-CoV-2 outbreak investigation at a storage and distribution centre in England: an assessment of worker- and workplace-related risk factors

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