Pilot study in Hamburg on the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections and pandemic survey in the German funeral industry

Abstract

Funeral home and crematorium workers are an important occupational group in the corona crisis. The occupational setting led to concerns about an increased risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2. The seroprevalence in this occupational group is unclear. A questionnaire-based retrospective survey of funeral home and crematorium staff was conducted in December 2020. A second survey of funeral and crematorium staff was conducted 6 months later, in June 2021, to determine changes in pandemic management. Seroprevalence or vaccination status for SARS-CoV-2 was determined at these two time points. In December 2020, a seroprevalence of 2.3% (n = 1/44) was detected in funeral home and crematorium workers. In June 2021, one additional participant tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid. Of the participants, 48.5% (n = 16) were vaccinated at this time. The risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection for funeral home and crematorium workers is more similar to that of the general population in Hamburg, Germany. We found no evidence of an increased risk of infection at these two time points in our cohort. Further education on communicable diseases or appropriate protective measures in this occupational group for other infectious diseases would be useful in the future.