Heliyon (Dec 2022)

Risk assessment of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in hospitality employees in a highly frequented tourist area

  • H. Thiessen,
  • N. Käding,
  • B. Gebel,
  • M. Borsche,
  • S. Graspeuntner,
  • L. Kirchhoff,
  • M. Ehlers,
  • J. Rahmöller,
  • S. Taube,
  • J. Kramer,
  • C. Klein,
  • A. Katalinic,
  • J. Rupp

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 12
p. e12177

Abstract

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Right from the start of the COVID pandemic in January 2020, the entire tourism sector was put under immense pressure because of its assumed role in SARS-CoV-2 transmission and infection dynamics. Based on reports of single superspreading events in the early days of the pandemic, the hotel industry appeared in a bad light that impaired a strategic risk-assessment of existing transmission risks between tourists and employees.We prospectively analysed samples of 679 employees of 21 hotels and restaurants from July 2020 to December 2020, a time during which more than 1.5 million tourists visited the Lübeck/Ostholstein Baltic Sea vacation area in Northern Germany. Employees were tested up to three times for an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection (PCR from nasopharyngeal swabs) and the presence of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies, and were asked to complete a short questionnaire.Despite the massive increase in tourist influx, no significant increase in SARS-CoV-2 cases was observed amongst employees of the tourism sector from July to September 2020. In a cluster-outbreak analysis of 104 study participants of one single hotel in the Lübeck/Ostholstein region in October 2020 being employed in the low-wage sector “housekeeping” could be determined as major risk factor for becoming infected.In conclusion, in a low incidence setting, touristic activities are safe under COVID-related hygiene measures for both the local population and employees of the tourism sector. Whereas, the field of work is a potential risk factor for increased infection dynamics.

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