Effective control of SARS-CoV-2 transmission between healthcare workers during a period of diminished community prevalence of COVID-19.

Previously, we showed that 3% (31/1032)of asymptomatic healthcare workers (HCWs) from a large teaching hospital in Cambridge, UK, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in April 2020. About 15% (26/169) HCWs with symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) also tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (Rivett et al., 2020). Here, we show that the proportion of both asymptomatic and symptomatic HCWs testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 rapidly declined to near-zero between 25th April and 24th May 2020, corresponding to a decline in patient admissions with COVID-19 during the ongoing UK 'lockdown'. These data demonstrate how infection prevention and control measures including staff testing may help prevent hospitals from becoming independent 'hubs' of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and illustrate how, with appropriate precautions, organizations in other sectors may be able to resume on-site work safely.
Competing Interests: NJ, LR, DS, SF, SS, JY, JP, CC, HG, NR, MW, MR, BW, JL, WC, FS, CM, MF, JG, MG, MC, SF, AS, JB, GH, GW No competing interests declared, AC Afzal Chaudhry reports grants from Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre at CUHNFT, during the conduct of the study. IG Ian Goodfellow reports grants from Wellcome Trust (Senior Research Fellowships), grants from Wellcome Trust (Collaborative Award), grants from Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust, during the conduct of the study. GD Gordon Dougan reports grants from NIHR, during the conduct of the study. KS Kenneth GC Smith reports grants from Wellcome Trust, during the conduct of the study. PL Paul J Lehner reports grants from Wellcome Trust Principal Research Fellowship, grants from Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust, during the conduct of the study. NM Nicholas J Matheson reports grants from Medical Research Council (Clinician Scientist Fellowship), grants from NHS Blood and Transfusion, during the conduct of the study. SB Stephen Baker reports grants from Wellcome Trust (Senior Research Fellowships), from Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust, during the conduct of the study. MW Michael P Weekes reports grants from Wellcome Trust (Senior Research Fellowships), from Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust, during the conduct of the study.
(© 2020, Jones et al.)