Characteristic of Healthcare Workers Infected with COVID-19, a Cross-Sectional Observational Study

INTRODUCTION: Corona Virus Disease 19 (COVID-19) is a new emerging infectious disease that was first identified in China, in December 2020 which is caused by SARS-CoV-2. This study describes the characteristics healthcare workers (HCWs) who tested positive for COVID-19 in a tertiary care hospital in Oman. METHOD: a cross-sectional descriptive analysis of COVID-19 infected HCWs. RESULTS: During the study period, 204 HCWs were tested positive for COVID-19 by rRT-PCR test with a test positivity rate of 21.2% and the percentage of infected hospital staff was 4.3%. The mean age was 36 years, 2.2% of the male staff were infected while 9.3% of the female staff got infected. Among the clinicians, 4.7% were infected and among the nurses, 4.1% were infected. 61.3% (125) of infection were community acquired followed by hospital acquisition 25.5% (52) and no source was identified in 13.2% (27). There was a significant difference between hospital acquired and community acquired COVID-19 infection between different HCWs categories (p < 0.001), gender (p = 0.041) and being at risk of COVID 19 exposure in the hospital (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in relation to nationality (p = 0498), age (p = 0.119) or presence of co-morbidities (p = 0.326). 78% (n = 160) had no chronic diseases, presented with ARI and fever 44% (n = 90) and all had uneventful full recovery. The peak of infection acquisition was after Eid AL Fiter Festival. CONCLUSION: HCWs are at an increased risk of COVID-19 infection at the workplace. Strengthening the infection control measures to prevent exposures from infected patients or colleagues and reduce the spread of COVID- 19 is a necessity.