SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Mortuary and Cemetery Workers.

BACKGROUND Mortuary and cemetery workers may be exposed to bodies of persons with SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, prevalence of infection among these groups is unknown. METHODS Nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) for RT-PCR and serologic testing for SARS-CoV-2 was performed on mortuary and cemetery workers in Qatar. We gathered data on specific job duties, living conditions, contact history, and clinical course. Environmental sampling was carried out to explore any association with infection. We used logistic regression analysis to determine the factors associated with infection. RESULTS All 47 mortuary workers provided a NPS and 7(14.9%) were PCR-positive; 32 provided a blood sample and 8 (25%) were antibody positive, 6 (75%) of seropositive were also PCR-positive. Among the 81 cemetery workers, 76 provided a NPS and 5 (6.6%) were PCR-positive; 64 provided a blood sample and 22 (34.4%) were antibody positive, 3 (13.6%) of seropositive were also PCR-positive. Three (22.2 %) and 20 (83.3%) of infected mortuary and cemetery were asymptomatic. Age 35. CONCLUSION A substantial proportion of mortuary and cemetery workers have evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which is incidentally detected upon serologic testing. Our data are most consistent with community-acquisition rather than occupational-acquisition.