Research Article: COVID-19 seroprevalence among local authority workers from Orléans Métropole, the Community of Communes of the Terres du Val de Loire, the local public service management centre of the Loiret department and the Region Centre Val de Loire: a prospective epidemiological study
Abstract:
Objective To evaluate the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among local authority workers, depending on their position and potential interaction with the public. Methods A cohort of volunteer participants was recruited among local authority workers of the Centre Val de Loire region in France, to be tested using a rapid serological test (COVID-PRESTO). The collected data were analysed by comparing different parameters including, gender, age, position held, and contact or not with the public. The study was carried out from August to December 2020 and included 3228 participants (n=3228), from 18 to 65 years old. Results The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among local authority workers was estimated at 3.04%. No significant difference could be observed according to the position held by the workers and whether they were or not in contact with the public. Nevertheless, a significant difference was observed between the different investigating centres, in correlation with the geographical location. Conclusion Contact with members of the public was not a critical parameter for SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence as long as protective measures are applied. Among the population included in the study, childcare workers were more at risk of getting infected by the virus. Trial registration number NCT04387968
Introduction:
In December 2019, a new virus called SARS-CoV-2 1 causing atypical pneumonia appeared in the capital of Wuhan Province, China. It belongs to the family of COVID-19 that caused the SARS epidemic between 2002 and 2003 2 and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, first detected in the Middle East in 2012 and still ongoing. 3 The COVID-19 disease, caused by this SARS-CoV-2 virus, is potentially lethal and a major global public health concern. On 11 March 2020, it was qualified as the first pandemic caused by the COVID-19…
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