Transmission of COVID-19 to Health Care Personnel During Exposures to a Hospitalized Patient — Solano County, California, February 2020

Weekly / April 17, 2020 / 69(15);472–476

On April 14, 2020, this report was posted online as an MMWR Early Release.

Amy Heinzerling, MD1,2; Matthew J. Stuckey, PhD3; Tara Scheuer, MPH4; Kerui Xu, PhD2,3; Kiran M. Perkins, MD3; Heather Resseger, MSN5; Shelley Magill, MD, PhD3; Jennifer R. Verani, MD3; Seema Jain, MD1; Meileen Acosta, MPH4; Erin Epson, MD1 (View author affiliations)

View suggested citation

Summary

What is already known about this topic?

Health care personnel (HCP) are at heightened risk of acquiring COVID-19 infection, but limited information exists about transmission in health care settings.

What is added by this report?

Among 121 HCP exposed to a patient with unrecognized COVID-19, 43 became symptomatic and were tested for SARS-CoV-2, of whom three had positive test results; all three had unprotected patient contact. Exposures while performing physical examinations or during nebulizer treatments were more common among HCP with COVID-19.

What are the implications for public health practice?

Unprotected, prolonged patient contact, as well as certain exposures, including some aerosol-generating procedures, were associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCP. Early recognition and isolation of patients with possible infection and recommended PPE use can help minimize unprotected, high-risk HCP exposures and protect the health care workforce.