Study: SARS-CoV-2 infection risk low for ED staff using recommended prevention practices

Using recommended prevention practices can largely eliminate the occupational risk of COVID-19 to health care personnel, according to a study of over 1,600 direct care staff in 20 hospital emergency departments before COVID-19 vaccines were available. Despite frequent exposure to high-risk aerosol-generating procedures, only 4.5% of ED clinical staff were infected during the 20-week study, comparable to the infection rate for non-clinical ED staff. 
 
Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the study also found that “exposure in family and community settings plays an extremely important role in acquisition of COVID-19 by HCP,” CDC officials note in a blog post on the findings. “Thus, interventions such as vaccination that provide protection in both work and non-work settings are critical for preventing COVID-19 in HCP.”