At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was growing concern about how exposed retail workers were to the virus. A new study led by Dr. Sylvie Trottier from the Infectious Diseases Research Center of Laval University and in collaboration with other institutions from Canada examines how often retail workers in Quebec City contracted the virus and what factors increased their risk. Their research is published in the journal Infectious Disease Reports.
Dr. Trottier’s and colleagues’ study followed retail workers during different phases of the pandemic, including the arrival of the Omicron variant, a highly contagious version of the virus that spread rapidly. Researchers tested participants for signs of past infections, meaning they checked for antibodies—proteins in the blood that show someone has had the virus before. They also asked workers about their experiences with COVID-19. The results showed that more than half of the workers contracted COVID-19 at some point, with a similar number testing positive for past infection, and more than one in three reporting a confirmed case through virus testing, which includes PCR and rapid antigen tests that detect active infections. “Our findings show that COVID-19 spread in ways that were not always tied to workplace exposure, meaning retail workers may have been more affected by their activities outside of work,” explained Dr. Trottier.
Some factors made workers more likely to get infected. The study found that younger employees, those with pre-existing lung conditions, people working longer hours, those who socialized more often, and those who had not received the recommended number of vaccine doses were at higher risk. However, the link between age, work hours, and infection was mainly seen after public health restrictions, such as mask mandates and social distancing rules, were lifted in the spring of 2022. “This suggests that workplace protections helped reduce infections early on, but as restrictions eased, social interactions became a bigger factor in spreading the virus,” said Dr. Trottier.
Dr. Trottier’s team’s study also showed that while working in retail was not necessarily a major risk factor when protective measures were in place, continued vaccination and mindful social behavior played key roles in preventing infections. Researchers also pointed out that testing for antibodies, which show past infections by detecting immune responses, helped identify cases that otherwise might have gone unnoticed. Almost one in three infections in the study were found in people who never showed symptoms, meaning they had the virus but did not feel sick.
Dr. Trottier’s research group’s findings help improve our understanding of how COVID-19 spreads and highlight the need for flexible public health strategies, which are policies and actions designed to protect people from disease. The researchers stress that future pandemic planning should consider both workplace and community-based risks. Their study shows that while workplace protections were useful, social behavior and other outside factors played a growing role in transmission as restrictions eased.
Journal Reference
Santerre, K.; Thériault, M.; Brousseau, N.; Langlois, M.-A.; Arnold, C.; Pelletier, J.N.; Gilbert, C.; Masson, J.-F.; Baz, M.; Boudreau, D.; et al. “Infection Rate and Risk Factors of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Retail Workers at the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Quebec, Canada.” Infect. Dis. Rep. 2024, 16, 1240–1253. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/idr16060098
About the Author
Dr. Sylvie Trottier is a polyvalent microbiologist and infectious diseases specialist. She has conducted numerous clinical studies in the field of infectious diseases. Her work at Laval University has contributed to the development of more efficient diagnostic tools, safer and more efficacious treatments and better prevention strategies particularly in caring for patients with HIV/AIDS and other infections. Her research aims at providing knowledge and understanding to fight infections.
