JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Many studies have focused on characteristics of symptomatic COVID-19 patients and clinical risk factors. This study reports prevalence of COVID-19 in the general population and identifies factors that affect exposure to the virus.

Objective:

To measure the prevalence of COVID-19 in a hospital service area and identify factors that may increase or decrease the risk of infection and exposure.

Methods:

This study collected survey information relating to work and living situations, income, behavior, socio-demographic characteristics and pre-pandemic health characteristics which was linked to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and two different serologic assays. Positivity rate was used to calculate approximate prevalence, hospitalization rate and infection fatality rate (IFR). Survey data was used to analyze risk factors, including the number of contacts reported by study participants.

Results:

We found a positivity rate of 2.2 percent, a hospitalization rate of 1.2 percent and an adjusted IFR of 0.55 percent. Number of daily contacts with adults and seniors increases the probability of becoming infected. Occupation, living in apartment versus a house, and wearing a facial mask outside work increased probability of COVID-19 infection.

Conclusions:

Comparing these numbers with officially reported infections leads to estimates of unreported cases. Occupational, living-situation, and behavioral data may aid in the identification of non-clinical factors affecting SARS-CoV-2 exposure and infection.