Effective control of SARS-CoV-2 transmission between healthcare workers during a period of diminished community prevalence of COVID-19
Authors: Jones Nick K , Rivett Lucy , Sparkes Dominic , Forrest Sally , Sridhar Sushmita , Young Jamie , Pereira-Dias Joana , Cormie Claire , Gill Harmeet , Reynolds Nicola , Wantoch Michelle , Routledge Matthew , Warne Ben , Levy Jack , Córdova Jiménez William David , Samad Fathima Nisha Begum , McNicholas Chris , Ferris Mark , Gray Jane , Gill Michael ,   The CITIID-NIHR COVID-19 BioResource Collaboration, Baker Stephen , Bradley John , Dougan Gordon , Goodfellow Ian , Gupta Ravi , Lehner Paul J , Lyons Paul A , Matheson Nicholas J , Smith Kenneth GC , Torok M Estee , Toshner Mark , Weekes Michael P , Jones Nicholas K , Rivett Lucy , Routledge Matthew , Sparkes Dominic , Warne Ben , Cormie Claire , Forrest Sally , Gill Harmeet , Kean Iain , Pereira-Dias Joana , Reynolds Nicola , Sridhar Sushmita , Wantoch Michelle , Young Jamie , Caddy Sarah , Caller Laura , Feltwell Theresa , Hall Grant , Hamilton William , Hosmillo Myra , Houldcroft Charlotte , Jahun Aminu , Khokhar Fahad , Meredith Luke , Yakovleva Anna , Butcher Helen , Caputo Daniela , Clapham-Riley Debra , Dolling Helen , Furlong Anita , Graves Barbara , Le Gresley Emma , Kingston Nathalie , Papadia Sofia , Stark Hannah , Stirrups Kathleen E , Webster Jennifer , Calder Joanna , Harris Julie , Hewitt Sarah , Kennet Jane , Meadows Anne , Rastall Rebecca , Brien Criona O , Price Jo , Publico Cherry , Rowlands Jane , Ruffolo Valentina , Tordesillas Hugo , Gill Michael , Gray Jane , Hannon Greg , Brookes Karen , Canna Laura , Cruz Isabel , Dempsey Katie , Elmer Anne , Escoffery Naidine , Fuller Stewart , Jones Heather , Ribeiro Carla , Saunders Caroline , Wright Angela , Nyagumbo Rutendo , Roberts Anne , Bucke Ashlea , Hargreaves Simone , Johnson Danielle , Narcorda Aileen , Read Debbie , Sparke Christian , Worboys Lucy , Lagadu Kirsty , Mactavous Lenette , Gould Tim , Raine Tim , Shaw Ashley , Mather Claire , Ramenatte Nicola , Vallier Anne-Laure , Kasanicki Mary , Eames Penelope-Jane , McNicholas Chris , Thake Lisa , Bartholomew Neil , Brown Nick , Curran Martin , Parmar Surendra , Zhang Hongyi , Bowring Ailsa , Ferris Mark , Martell Geraldine , Quinnell Natalie , Wright Giles , Wright Jo , Murphy Helen , Dunmore Benjamin J , Legchenko Ekaterina , Gräf Stefan , Huang Christopher , Hodgson Josh , Hunter Kelvin , Martin Jennifer , Mescia Federica , ODonnell Ciara , Pointon Linda , Shih Joy , Sutcliffe Rachel , Tilly Tobias , Tong Zhen , Treacy Carmen , Wood Jennifer , Bergamaschi Laura , Betancourt Ariana , Bowyer Georgie , De Sa Aloka , Epping Maddie , Hinch Andrew , Huhn Oisin , Jarvis Isobel , Lewis Daniel , Marsden Joe , McCallum Simon , Nice Francescsa , Omarjee Ommar , Perera Marianne , Romashova Nika , Strezlecki Mateusz , Yarkoni Natalia Savoinykh , Turner Lori , Bailey Barrie , Chaudhry Afzal , Doughton Rachel , Workman Chris , Trotter Caroline , David William , Jiménez Cordova , Levy Jack , Samad Fatima NB , Curran Martin D , Fuller Stewart , Chaudhry Afzal , Shaw Ashley , Bradley John R , Hannon Gregory J , Goodfellow Ian G , Dougan Gordon , Smith Kenneth GC , Lehner Paul J , Wright Giles , Matheson Nicholas J , Baker Stephen , Weekes Michael P 
Published: June 2020

Previously, we showed that 3% (31/1032)of asymptomatic healthcare workers (HCWs) from a large teaching hospital in Cambridge, UK, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in April 2020. About 15% (26/169) HCWs with symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) also tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (Rivett et al., 2020). Here, we show that the proportion of both asymptomatic and symptomatic HCWs testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 rapidly declined to near-zero between 25th April and 24th May 2020, corresponding to a decline in patient admissions with COVID-19 during the ongoing UK ‘lockdown’. These data demonstrate how infection prevention and control measures including staff testing may help prevent hospitals from becoming independent ‘hubs’ of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and illustrate how, with appropriate precautions, organizations in other sectors may be able to resume on-site work safely.