CDC: Absenteeism increased in essential workers during March, April of COVID-19 pandemic

Editor's Note

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) on July 10 reported that health-related workplace absenteeism rates were significantly higher than expected in March and April for some occupational groups in essential critical infrastructure categories.

The following significantly exceeded their epidemic thresholds:

• personal care and services, including childcare workers and personal care aides (5.1% observed vs 2.1% expected)
• healthcare support (5.0% vs 2.4%)
• production occupations, including meat, poultry, and fish processing workers (3.7% vs 2.3%)

These findings are consistent with those from public health surveillance and field investigations suggesting that certain groups of workers might be at increased risk for COVID-19 infection because of their work during the pandemic, the researchers say.