'Alarming rate' of coronavirus infection among grocery store workers, study finds - msnNOW

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While health care workers’ heightened risk of coronavirus has dominated the conversation, a new study found grocery store workers also have alarming rates of infection.

Researchers from Harvard University found that 20% of 104 grocery workers tested positive at a store in Massachusetts, and most of them had no symptoms when tested.

A new study found grocery store workers have alarming rates of infection.

“We did the study because a lot of emphasis during the initial months of COVID were put on healthcare workers, but not other essential workers,” Dr.

"Our significant mental health finding calls for action in providing comprehensive employee assistance services to help essential workers cope with the psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic," researchers wrote.

Workers who directly interacted with customers were five times more likely to test positive, per the study.

Study authors also said their findings reinforce observations from a study out of China, which found a 9.2% infection rate among supermarket workers.

The authors said their findings "supports the policy recommendations that employers and government officials should take actions on implementing preventive strategies and administrative arrangements, such as methods to reduce interpersonal contact, repeat and routine SARS-CoV-2 employee testing, to ensure the health and safety of essential workers."

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