Coronavirus Fears Kept Many Essential Workers at Home in April: Study
THURSDAY, July 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Many more American workers caring for children, the sick or aged, as well as bus drivers, subway workers and those involved in food production took time off work in April -- probably due to fears of contracting COVID-19, a new government report finds.
In an analysis of federal employment data on work absenteeism from October 2019 until the end of April 2020, researchers found that absenteeism for American workers overall didn't change as the coronavirus pandemic took hold.
But that was not the case for certain essential service workers who did not have the option of working from home, the study found.
"Absenteeism among workers in several [occupation-specific] groups that define or contain essential critical infrastructure workforce categories was significantly higher than expected in April," said a team led by Matthew Groenewold, of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In some job categories that millions of Americans rely on to function each day, worker absenteeism shot up in April.
These included:
Groenewold's group noted that many of the jobs affected by higher work days taken off in April "involve prolonged close contact with patients, the general public or co-workers."
Those jobs typically couldn't be performed remotely or at home, and that meant that going into work every day put these workers "at increased risk for occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2," the new coronavirus, the researchers said.
The findings were published in the July 10 issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the new coronavirus.
SOURCE: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, July 10, 2020
Related Articles
Search Allergy Articles
Healthy, Diverse Infant Microbiome Could Shield Kids From Asthma
Ragweed, Mold & More: Get Ready for Fall Allergies
Winter Is Prime Time for Indoor Allergies
Seniors, Here Are the Meds That Can Harm Your Driving Skills
Sun Plus Certain Foods, Meds Can Bring on 'Margarita Rashes'
Vitamin K May Kickstart Healthy Lungs
American Lung Association Blasts Biden for Inaction on Menthol Cigarette Ban
Researchers Find New Way to Curb Asthma Attacks
Roadside Trees, Bushes Are Cutting Air Pollution, Study Finds
Flu, COVID Cases Climb as RSV Infections Start to Level Off
How Would an FDA Ban on Popular Cold Meds Affect Americans?
Feed a Cold and a Fever, Experts Say
Contrary to Popular Belief, 1918 Flu Did Not Target the Healthy Young
Respiratory Illnesses in China Not Caused by New Virus, CDC Director Testifies