IntroductionThe workplace is among the main activities for a large proportion of the population, and consequently a source of potential Sars-Cov2 infection. In this study we investigated longitudinally the incidence of COVID-19 by sectorMethodsThe 14-day incidence of confirmed COVID-19 cases per NACE-BEL code is calculated cross-sectionally in periods immediately preceding the Belgian soft lock-down of October 19, 2020, and is evaluated longitudinally by a Gaussian-Gaussian modelling two-stage approach. Additionally, we are analysing contact tracing data for companies affiliated with occupational health service IDEWE.ResultsThe peak of COVID-19 14-day incidence was reached in the period October 20-November 2, 2020 and was considerably higher than average in human health activities, residential care activities, fitness facilities, human resource provision, hairdressing and other beauty treatment and some public service activities. During the course of the study, we observed large outbreaks in processing, production and preserving of meat, poultry. Similarly, higher incidences was shown in some manufacturing sectors that are not able to telework (manufacturing of metals and textile). Employees in wholesale and retail daily confronted with multiple close contacts, resulting in higher incidences of COVID-19. Finally, the incidence of COVID-19 in the non-medical contact professions remained in general above the working population incidence. Finally, it is encouraging that 3 to 4 weeks after vaccination that the 14-day incidences in health care workers, in- and out-hospital, and residential care in elderly employees are the lowest of all sectors,ConclusionThis analysis can help us to better understand causes of increased infection rates and it can offer us ways to reduce infections without jeopardizing the continuity of these sectors/companies for the benefit of all. These data can also support the epidemiological evidence for the recognition of COVID-19 as occupational disease.
Incidence of COVID-19 by sector