Epidemiology of COVID-19 Among Healthcare Workers In Ontario, Canada During The First Pandemic Wave

Abstract

Aim and Objectives: This study aims to describe and compare COVID-19 cases among healthcare workers, long-term care residents, and the general population in Ontario, Canada, considering baseline characteristics, trends over time, and socioeconomic status.
 Methods: This study used test-confirmed COVID-19 case reports between March 13th, 2020 to June 15th, 2020, reported by Ontario’s Public Health Units to the Ontario Ministry of Health Public Health Case and Contact Management Solution (CCM). Cases were stratified into three sub-populations based on risk group characteristics identified in CCM data: healthcare workers, long-term care residents, and the general population. The residential postal codes of the cases reported to CCM were linked to area-level socioeconomic characteristics of material deprivation from the Ontario Marginalization Index (ON-MARG). Demographic characteristics and case outcomes were captured in CCM data for each case.
 Results: COVID-19 cases among healthcare workers were more concentrated between working ages of 20–59 and in females, compared to the general population and long-term care cases. Additionally, hospitalization and mortality were low among healthcare workers compared to the other sub-populations. Over time, COVID-19 cases decreased among healthcare workers. For both healthcare workers and the general population, more cases were observed in areas of high material deprivation, and this disparity between high- and low- income areas increased over time.
 Conclusion: Healthcare workers are a known high-risk group for COVID-19. For the surveillance of this disease, it is important to understand how they compare to other population groups regarding infection, hospitalization, and mortality. Our analysis shows clear socioeconomic gradients in the distribution of the disease. Thus, focusing our efforts on identifying and testing healthcare workers that work or live in lower socioeconomic areas would benefit the residents and workers in these areas and support the ongoing COVID-19 response.