Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in First Responders

Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

We conducted a serologic survey in public service agencies in New York City, New York, USA, during May–July 2020 to determine prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among first responders. Of 22,647 participants, 22.5% tested positive for SARS-CoV-2–specific antibodies. Seroprevalence for police and firefighters was similar to overall seroprevalence; seroprevalence was highest in correctional staff (39.2%) and emergency medical technicians (38.3%) and lowest in laboratory technicians (10.1%) and medicolegal death investigators (10.8%). Adjusted analyses demonstrated association between seropositivity and exposure to SARS-CoV-2–positive household members (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.52 [95% CI 3.19–3.87]), non-Hispanic Black race or ethnicity (aOR 1.50 [95% CI 1.33–1.68]), and severe obesity (aOR 1.31 [95% CI 1.05–1.65]). Consistent glove use (aOR 1.19 [95% CI 1.06–1.33]) increased likelihood of seropositivity; use of other personal protective equipment had no association. Infection control measures, including vaccination, should be prioritized for frontline workers.

Introduction

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was recognized in New York City (NYC), New York, USA, in late February 2020 and had spread throughout the community by March 2020.^[1] First responders and public safety personnel have played a critical role in the COVID-19 pandemic response. Understanding the occupational risks for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is vital for designing workplace prevention protocols to reduce transmission. Serologic surveys can identify the prevalence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection in the population.

We conducted a serologic survey to estimate SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence among first responders, public safety personnel, and other public service workers in NYC. The study objectives were to determine the prevalence of IgG against SARS-CoV-2 and to examine associations between characteristics and occupational exposures and previous infection among workers in emergency response and public safety settings.

Table. Percentage of respondents who were seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 IgG, by demographic and health characteristics, in a study of first responders and public safety personnel, New York City, New York, USA, May 18–July 2, 2020*
Characteristic	No. (%)	% Seropositive (95% CI)
Total	22,647 (100.0)	22.5 (21.9–23.0)
Sex
M	17,118 (75.6)	21.9 (21.3–22.5)
F	5,529 (24.4)	24.2 (23.1–25.4)
Age group, y
18–24	795 (3.5)	32.0 (28.7–35.3)
25–34	6,677 (29.5)	26.4 (25.3–27.5)
35–44	8,034 (35.5)	20.2 (19.4–21.1)
45–59	6,328 (27.9)	20.3 (19.4–21.4)
60–64	589 (2.6)	20.7 (17.5–24.2)
≥65	224 (1.0)	18.3 (13.5–24.0)
Race/ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White	10,013 (44.2)	18.5 (17.7–19.2)
Non-Hispanic Black	3,292 (14.5)	30.1 (28.5–31.7)
Non-Hispanic Asian	1,647 (7.3)	21.3 (19.4–23.4)
Hispanic or Latino	5,460 (24.1)	26.9 (25.7–28.1)
Non-Hispanic other race†	548 (2.4)	20.3 (17.0–23.9)
Decline to answer	1,687 (7.5)	19.3 (17.4–21.2)
Weight status, n = 22,632‡
Underweight or normal weight	4,048 (17.9)	21.4 (20.2–22.7)
Overweight	10,386 (45.9)	22.1 (21.3–22.9)
Obese	7,500 (33.1)	23.1 (22.1–24.1)
Severely obese	698 (3.1)	27.8 (24.5–31.3)
Housing, n = 22,641
Single family	15,455 (68.3)	21.1 (20.5–21.8)
Multiunit	7,186 (31.7)	25.3 (24.3–26.4)
Residence borough
Outside New York City	8,654 (38.2)	18.3 (17.5–19.2)
Bronx	1,948 (8.6)	28.8 (26.8–30.9)
Brooklyn	3,329 (14.7)	28.0 (26.5–29.5)
Manhattan	1,207 (5.3)	21.4 (19.1–23.8)
Queens	4,834 (21.3)	25.4 (24.2–26.6)
Staten Island	2,675 (11.8)	19.8 (18.3–21.3)
Workplace§
Correctional facility	1,272 (5.6)	36.2 (33.6–39.0)
Emergency medical services	2,418 (10.7)	35.2 (33.3–37.2)
Childcare setting (Regional Enrichment Center)	677 (3.0)	21.3 (18.2–24.6)
Fire services	6,087 (26.9)	20.8 (19.8–21.9)
Police department	11,885 (52.5)	19.8 (19.1–20.5)
Medical examiner office	394 (1.7)	11.7 (8.7–15.3)
Workplace borough
Bronx	3,524 (15.6)	26.8 (25.4–28.3)
Brooklyn	6,075 (26.8)	24.1 (23.1–25.2)
Manhattan	5,755 (25.4)	19.7 (18.6–20.7)
Queens	6,200 (27.4)	21.9 (20.9–23.0)
Staten Island	1,093 (4.8)	17.4 (15.2–19.8)
Exposure to persons who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2‡
Household member	2,393 (10.6)	48.3 (46.3–50.3)
Coworker	14,912 (65.9)	23.7 (23.0–24.3)
Patient	6,502 (28.7)	26.9 (25.8–28.0)
Other person	7,721 (34.1)	26.8 (25.8–27.8)

Table. Percentage of respondents who were seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 IgG, by demographic and health characteristics, in a study of first responders and public safety personnel, New York City, New York, USA, May 18–July 2, 2020*

Characteristic

No. (%)

% Seropositive (95% CI)

Total

22,647 (100.0)

22.5 (21.9–23.0)

Sex

17,118 (75.6)

21.9 (21.3–22.5)

5,529 (24.4)

24.2 (23.1–25.4)

Age group, y

18–24

795 (3.5)

32.0 (28.7–35.3)

25–34

6,677 (29.5)

26.4 (25.3–27.5)

35–44

8,034 (35.5)

20.2 (19.4–21.1)

45–59

6,328 (27.9)

20.3 (19.4–21.4)

60–64

589 (2.6)

20.7 (17.5–24.2)

≥65

224 (1.0)

18.3 (13.5–24.0)

Race/ethnicity

Non-Hispanic White

10,013 (44.2)

18.5 (17.7–19.2)

Non-Hispanic Black

3,292 (14.5)

30.1 (28.5–31.7)

Non-Hispanic Asian

1,647 (7.3)

21.3 (19.4–23.4)

Hispanic or Latino

5,460 (24.1)

26.9 (25.7–28.1)

Non-Hispanic other race†

548 (2.4)

20.3 (17.0–23.9)

Decline to answer

1,687 (7.5)

19.3 (17.4–21.2)

Weight status, n = 22,632‡

Underweight or normal weight

4,048 (17.9)

21.4 (20.2–22.7)

Overweight

10,386 (45.9)

22.1 (21.3–22.9)

Obese

7,500 (33.1)

23.1 (22.1–24.1)

Severely obese

698 (3.1)

27.8 (24.5–31.3)

Housing, n = 22,641

Single family

15,455 (68.3)

21.1 (20.5–21.8)

Multiunit

7,186 (31.7)

25.3 (24.3–26.4)

Residence borough

Outside New York City

8,654 (38.2)

18.3 (17.5–19.2)

Bronx

1,948 (8.6)

28.8 (26.8–30.9)

Brooklyn

3,329 (14.7)

28.0 (26.5–29.5)

Manhattan

1,207 (5.3)

21.4 (19.1–23.8)

Queens

4,834 (21.3)

25.4 (24.2–26.6)

Staten Island

2,675 (11.8)

19.8 (18.3–21.3)

Workplace§

Correctional facility

1,272 (5.6)

36.2 (33.6–39.0)

Emergency medical services

2,418 (10.7)

35.2 (33.3–37.2)

Childcare setting (Regional Enrichment Center)

677 (3.0)

21.3 (18.2–24.6)

Fire services

6,087 (26.9)

20.8 (19.8–21.9)

Police department

11,885 (52.5)

19.8 (19.1–20.5)

Medical examiner office

394 (1.7)

11.7 (8.7–15.3)

Workplace borough

Bronx

3,524 (15.6)

26.8 (25.4–28.3)

Brooklyn

6,075 (26.8)

24.1 (23.1–25.2)

Manhattan

5,755 (25.4)

19.7 (18.6–20.7)

Queens

6,200 (27.4)

21.9 (20.9–23.0)

Staten Island

1,093 (4.8)

17.4 (15.2–19.8)

Exposure to persons who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2‡

Household member

2,393 (10.6)

48.3 (46.3–50.3)

Coworker

14,912 (65.9)

23.7 (23.0–24.3)

Patient

6,502 (28.7)

26.9 (25.8–28.0)

Other person

7,721 (34.1)

26.8 (25.8–27.8)

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in First Responders and Public Safety Personnel

New York City, New York, USA, May-July 2020

Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

Introduction

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in First Responders and Public Safety Personnel

New York City, New York, USA, May-July 2020

Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

Introduction

Tables

References

Authors and Disclosures

Authors and Disclosures

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