Table 2.
Reported COVID-19 exposures and PCR outcomes among school staff
| Variable | N* | Completed questionnaire (n=1689) |
| COVID-19-like symptoms†, n (%) | 1688 | 664 (39.3%) |
| Number tested for COVID-19 (PCR), n (%) | 1688 | 760 (45.0%) |
| At least one positive COVID-19 viral test | 24 (1.4%) | |
| More than one positive COVID-19 viral test | 1 (0.01%) | |
| All negative COVID-19 viral test | 715 (42.4%) | |
| Did not know/Could not remember test result | 21 (1.2%) | |
| Hospitalised for COVID-19, n (%) | 1683 | 3 (0.2%) |
| Type of occupation for essential worker living in household, n (%) | 1671 | 619 (37.0%) |
| Agriculture and food production | 7 (0.4%) | |
| Community services (sewage and water treatment, waste disposal) | 10 (0.6%) | |
| Construction, maintenance, skilled trades | 77 (4.6%) | |
| Consumer products (hardware, safety, vehicle, sales, garden centres) | 9 (0.5%) | |
| Financial services (banking, real estate, insurance) | 19 (1.1%) | |
| Food (grocery, convenience, liquor, restaurant) | 67 (4.0%) | |
| Healthcare | 99 (5.9%) | |
| Social services, education, research | 244 (14.6%) | |
| Manufacturing, resources, energy, utilities | 21 (1.3%) | |
| Services (pharmacy, gas station, delivery, funeral, vet, etc) | 13 (0.8%) | |
| Sports (professional) | 0 | |
| Supply chain and transportation | 19 (1.1%) | |
| Telecommunications and IT (including the media) | 16 (1.0%) | |
| Other | 84 (5.0%) | |
| COVID-19 case among other household members‡, % yes, n (%) | 1688 | 51 (3.0%) |
| Reported close contact with a COVID-19 case outside household (within 2 m and for >2 min), n (%) | 1686 | 363 (21.5%) |
| Another school staff member/work colleague | 133 (7.9%) | |
| Student in classroom setting | 145 (8.6%) | |
| Family (non-household member) | 46 (2.7%) | |
| Friend | 84 (5.0%) | |
| Unknown | 26 (1.5%) | |
| Wear a mask in public places§, % always or often, n (%) | 1685 | 1677 (98.5%) |
| Co-workers wear masks§, % always or usually, n (%) | 1682 | 1635 (97.2%) |
| Students wear masks§, % always or usually, n (%) | ||
| Elementary | 1058 | 359 (33.9%) |
| Secondary | 465 | 431 (92.7%) |
| Completed serology testing, n (%) | 1689 | 1556 (92.1%) |
*N with data available.
†Any of the following: headache, cough, fever, sore throat, shortness of breath, sore muscles, diarrhoea, decrease sense of smell (specify period). “Did you have any of the following symptoms between January 2020 and present?”
‡"Has anyone in your household (not counting yourself) ever tested positive for COVID-19? ((yes), (not applicable, I live alone), (no one has been tested), (no, they tested negative), (not sure, waiting for the result))”.
§Questions about masking were as follows: “How often have you worn a mask in public places in the past 3 months? (never, rarely, occasionally, often, always)”; “To the best of your knowledge, how often do your co-workers wear a mask in your presence? (never, occasionally, usually, always)”; “To the best of your knowledge, how often do students in your school wear a mask in your presence? (never, occasionally, usually, always)”.