Sendi, Parham; Baldan, Rossella; Thierstein, Marc; Widmer, Nadja; Gowland, Peter; Gahl, Brigitta; Büchi, Annina Elisabeth; Güntensperger, Dominik; Wider, Manon; Blum, Manuel Raphael; Tinguely, Caroline; Maillat, Cédric; Theel, Elitza S; Berbari, Elie; Dijkman, Ronald; Niederhauser, Christoph (2021). A multidimensional cross-sectional analysis of COVID-19 seroprevalence among a police officer cohort: The PoliCOV-19 study. Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 8(12), ofab524. Oxford University Press 10.1093/ofid/ofab524
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Background
Protests and police fieldwork provides a high exposure environment for SARS-CoV-2 infections. In this cross-sectional analysis, we investigated the seroprevalence among a police cohort, and sociodemographic, work and health-related factors associated with seropositivity.
Methods
Study participants were invited for serological testing of SARS-CoV-2 and to complete online questionnaires. Serum neutralization titres towards the wild-type SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (expressing D614G) and the alpha and beta variants were measured in seropositive study participants.
Results
978 police personnel representing 35% of the entire staff participated from February to March 2021. The seroprevalence was 12.9%. It varied by geographic region within the canton; ranged from 9% to 13.5% in three regions, including the city; and was 22% in Bernese Seeland/Jura with higher odds for seropositivity (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.28–4.44, P=0.006). Job roles with mainly office activity were associated with a lower risk of seropositivity (0.33, 0.14–0.77, P=0.010). Most seropositive employees (67.5%) reported having had COVID-19 three months or longer prior to serological testing. Selfreported compliance with mask wearing during working hours was 100%; 45% of all seropositive versus 5% of all seronegative participants (P<0.001) reported having had contact with a proven COVID-19 case living in the same household prior to serological testing. The level of serum antibody titres correlated with neutralization capacity. Antibodies derived from natural SARS-CoV-2 infection effectively neutralized the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, but were less effective against the alpha and beta variants.
Conclusions
The seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies of police officers was comparable to that reported in the general population, suggesting that the personal protective equipment of the police is effective, and that household contacts are the leading transmission venues. The level of serum antibody titres, in particular that of anti-spike antibodies, correlated well with neutralization capacity. Low antibody titres acquired from natural infection were not effective against variants.
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