Infection prevention of COVID-19 in hospitals: Control of COVID-19 iN Hospitals (COCON study)

In June/July 2020, antibodies against the novel coronavirus were detected in 15% of employees of 13 Dutch hospitals, indicating a history of infection during the first months of the pandemic. During the summer months, the coronavirus was less active and only 1% of employees experienced an infection. Antibodies were more frequently present in employees in Noord-Brabant and in employees working in the emergency department. Antibodies were less frequently found in employees in intensive, high and medium care, in employees with a lung disease and in smokers. Only 85% of employees with a history of infection had complaints. The most common complaints were severe fatigue, fever and coughing. In order to gain insight into the role of contamination of the patient's environment in the transmission of the novel coronavirus to healthcare workers, a study was also conducted in nursing homes. In the rooms where infected clients were in isolation, the coronavirus was frequently found in the immediate vicinity of the client. In addition, viable coronavirus was detected in one air sample. This indicates that airborne particles containing the novel coronavirus can be infectious.