TY - JOUR
T1 - Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 transmission among meat processing workers in Nebraska, USA, and effectiveness of risk mitigation measures
AU - Herstein, Jocelyn J.
AU - Degarege, Abraham
AU - Stover, Derry
AU - Austin, Christopher
AU - Schwedhelm, Michelle M.
AU - Lawler, James V.
AU - Lowe, John J.
AU - Ramos, Athena K.
AU - Donahue, Matthew
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/4
Y1 - 2021/4
N2 - The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has severely impacted the meat processing industry in the United States. We sought to detail demographics and outcomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections among workers in Nebraska meat processing facilities and determine the effects of initiating universal mask policies and installing physical barriers at 13 meat processing facilities. During April 1-July 31, 2020, COVID-19 was diagnosed in 5,002 Nebraska meat processing workers (attack rate 19%). After initiating both universal masking and physical barrier interventions, 8/13 facilities showed a statistically significant reduction in COVID-19 incidence in <10 days. Characteristics and incidence of confirmed cases aligned with many nationwide trends becoming apparent during this pandemic: specifically, high attack rates among meat processing industry workers, disproportionately high risk of adverse outcomes among ethnic and racial minority groups and men, and effectiveness of using multiple prevention and control interventions to reduce disease transmission.
AB - The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has severely impacted the meat processing industry in the United States. We sought to detail demographics and outcomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections among workers in Nebraska meat processing facilities and determine the effects of initiating universal mask policies and installing physical barriers at 13 meat processing facilities. During April 1-July 31, 2020, COVID-19 was diagnosed in 5,002 Nebraska meat processing workers (attack rate 19%). After initiating both universal masking and physical barrier interventions, 8/13 facilities showed a statistically significant reduction in COVID-19 incidence in <10 days. Characteristics and incidence of confirmed cases aligned with many nationwide trends becoming apparent during this pandemic: specifically, high attack rates among meat processing industry workers, disproportionately high risk of adverse outcomes among ethnic and racial minority groups and men, and effectiveness of using multiple prevention and control interventions to reduce disease transmission.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85103178939&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85103178939&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3201/eid2704.204800
DO - 10.3201/eid2704.204800
M3 - Article
C2 - 33591249
AN - SCOPUS:85103178939
SN - 1080-6040
VL - 27
SP - 1032
EP - 1039
JO - Emerging infectious diseases
JF - Emerging infectious diseases
IS - 4
ER -