We know that essential workers have a higher risk of being exposed to the coronavirus because of the work they do.
Now we know that risk is about 55 percent higher than nonessential workers, based on research form Independence Blue Cross and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, writes The Associated Press for pennlive.com.
Researchers analyzed the impact of the lockdown last year on infection rates for 415,000 Blue Cross policyholders and the 387,000 people living with them in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Between mid-February and early June, when the stay-at-home order was lifted, about 2% of essential workers insured by Blue Cross tested positive for COVID-19, compared to 1% of nonessential workers.
That means a 55% higher risk of COVID-19 infection for essential workers, according to the research.
Essential worker households also had a higher risk of being infected. For roommates, it was 38% higher risk, for family members, 17%.
The findings could help officials figure out the economic and health tradeoffs of shutdowns, mitigation and worker classifications, said study co-author Aaron Smith-McLallen, director of health informatics for IBC.
“It does give us a way to quantify how effective these policies are,” Smith-McLallen said.
Read more about this study at pennlive.com.
