SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence Survey in Grocery Store Workers-Minnesota, 2020-2021

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Mar 16;19(6):3501. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19063501.

Abstract

Grocery workers were essential to the workforce and exempt from lockdown requirements as per Minnesota Executive Order 20-20. The risk of COVID-19 transmission in grocery settings is not well documented. This study aimed to determine which factors influenced seropositivity among grocery workers. We conducted a cross-sectional study of Minnesota grocery workers aged 18 and older using a convenience sample. Participants were recruited using a flyer disseminated electronically via e-mail, social media, and newspaper advertising. Participants were directed to an electronic survey and were asked to self-collect capillary blood for IgG antibody testing. Data were analyzed using logistic regression and adjusted for urbanicity, which confounded the relationship between number of job responsibilities in a store and seropositivity. Of 861 Minnesota grocery workers surveyed, 706 (82%) were tested as part of this study, of which 56 (7.9%) tested positive for IgG antibodies. Participants aged 65-74 years had the highest percent positivity. Having multiple job responsibilities in a store was significantly associated with seropositivity in our adjusted model (OR: 1.14 95% CI: 1.01-1.27). Workplace factors influenced seropositivity among Minnesota grocery workers. Future research will examine other potential factors (e.g., in-store preventive measures and access to PPE) that may contribute to increased seropositivity.

Keywords: COVID-19; grocery workers; serosurvey.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Aged
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • Communicable Disease Control
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Humans
  • Minnesota / epidemiology
  • SARS-CoV-2*
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Supermarkets