Pattern of COVID 19 Infection among Front line Health Workers and Contact Tracing Done among them. Our Experience in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background: A considerable number of front-line workers are under risk due to repeated infection and exposure. The pattern of COVID 19 infection among the front-line workers was important, so that more focus would be laid on protecting them. Contact tracing is one key strategy for interrupting chains of transmission of SARS-CoV-2. This study aimed to find the pattern of COVID 19 infection among front line health workers and describe the process of contact tracing. Methodology:The list of front-line workers with possible symptoms of COVID-19 or had come in direct contact with a "case" was shared with the department of community medicine for contract tracing activity as per the guidelines. The front-line workers who were categorized as High Risk were quarantined immediately and those who were categorized as Low-Risk were advised to be vigilant regarding the development of symptoms and were asked to continue with their routine duties with extra precautionary measures as they form a very vital part of the resource in this combat against COVID-19.Result: About 138 front line health workers were affected by COVID-19 among which staff nurses (51) amounted to the maximum number who were affected. Conclusion:COVID-19 was high among front-line workers and had a large number of high-risk contacts. Nurses were found to be most affected with COVID 19 infection.