August 17, 2020

Racial and Ethnic Disparities Among COVID-19 Cases in Workplace Outbreaks by Industry Sector — Utah, March 6–June 5, 2020

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Transmission

• During March 6–June 5, 2020, Utah reported 1,389 COVID-19 cases associated with 210 workplace-related outbreaks, defined as the occurrence of two or more laboratory-confirmed cases occurring within the same 14-day period among coworkers in a common workplace (median cases per outbreak=4; range=2–79) involving 15 industry sectors, most frequently in manufacturing (20%), construction (15%), and wholesale trade (14%). In total, 970 (73%) of persons with workplace outbreak-associated COVID-19 were identified as Hispanic or nonwhite, although these ethnic/racial groups represent <24% of Utah’s workforce in the 15 affected industry sectors. The authors conclude that mitigation strategies should be culturally and linguistically responsive to racial/ethnic minority workers disproportionately affected by COVID-19. 

Bui et al. (Aug 17, 2020). Racial and Ethnic Disparities Among COVID-19 Cases in Workplace Outbreaks by Industry Sector — Utah, March 6–June 5, 2020. MMWR. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6933e3