• Chen, Yiqun
• Nicholls, Ian
• Clarke, A.
• Nicholls, Gillian
• Pearce, Neil
• Coldwell, M.
• Atchison, C. J.
• Raja, A. I.
• Atkinson, B.
• Brickley, E. B.
• Fletcher, T.
• Van Veldhoven, Karin
• Bennett, A. M.
• Morgan, D.

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p>An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with an attack rate of 55% (22/40 workers) occurred at a public-facing office in England from August to September 2021. Published evidence regarding outbreaks in office workplaces remains limited.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Aims</jats:title><jats:p>To describe an investigation of workplace- and worker-related risk factors following an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in a public-facing office.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) Outbreak Investigation to Understand Transmission (COVID-OUT) study undertook an investigation of the outbreak. This included surface sampling, occupational environmental assessment, molecular and serological testing of workers, and detailed questionnaires.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Despite existing COVID-19 control measures, surface sampling conducted during a self-imposed 2-week temporary office closure identified viral contamination (10/60 samples, 17% positive), particularly in a small, shared security office (6/9, 67% positive) and on a window handle in one open-plan office. Targeted enhanced cleaning was, therefore, undertaken before the office reopened. Repeat surface sampling after this identified only one positive (2%) sample. Ventilation was deemed adequate using carbon dioxide monitoring (typically ≤1000 ppm). Twelve workers (30%) responded to the COVID-OUT questionnaire, and all had been vaccinated with two doses. One-third of respondents (4/12) reported direct physical or close contact with members of the public; of these, 75% (3/4) reported a divider/screen between themselves and members of the public.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title><jats:p>The results highlight the potential utility of surface sampling to identify SARS-CoV-2 control deficiencies and the importance of evolving, site-specific risk assessments with layered COVID-19 mitigation strategies.</jats:p></jats:sec>

Topics

• surface
• Carbon
• layered
• size-exclusion chromatography