1277Reasons for quarantine and positivity rate among quarantined Health Care Workers (HCWs) in North India. (2nd September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Prashar, Naveen; Singh, Rahuldeep; Mohindra, Ritin; Suri, Vikas; Bhalla, Ashish; Biswal, Manisha; Lakshmi, PVM.
• Is Part Of: International journal of epidemiology. Volume 50(2021)Supplement 1
• Publication Date: 2021-09-02
• Subjects: Epidemiology -- Periodicals; 614.4
• DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyab168.544
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-5771

Abstract

Abstract: Background: WHO has declared the COVID-19 as Pandemic on 11 th March, 2020. It is important to break the chain of transmission by quarantining the persons with high-risk exposure. Understanding the reasons for quarantine will help in reducing the exposures and thus reducing the chances of quarantine. Methods: A validated risk assessment tool based on National Centre for Disease Control guidelines was used for the risk assessment of HCWs. The forms of HCWs who underwent risk assessment between April-November, 2020 were analyzed for reasons of quarantine. The positivity rates among high-risk and low-risk groups were compared. Results: Out of 1414 HCWs who were assessed, 345 were categorized as high-risk exposure and were quarantined. The most common reasons for quarantine were performance of aerosol generating procedure without recommended personal protection equipment (PPE) (34%), exposure to COVID-19 positive patient without mask for more than 20 minutes at the distance less than 1 m (30%) and having food/tea together (27%). The positivity rate was 8.4% among high-risk and 1.9% among low-risk exposure group (p-value: <0.001). The positivity among low risk category was more in the second half (19/466; 4.1%) as compared to first half (1/603; 0.2%) of the study period. This might be due to exposure from non-hospital sources as second half coincides with first wave of the pandemic. Conclusion: Not using recommended PPE and having tea/food breaks together were the most common reasons for quarantine. Key messages: Strict enforcement of recommended PPE and scattered tea and food breaks can reduce high-risk exposures.