The Tracking of COVID-19 at work. The experience in the Basque Country

Abstract

On 31 December 2019 China reported around 27 cases of pneumonia of unknown origin. Some days later a new type of virus which was named New Coronavirus 2019-nCoV was identified as the cause. On 11 March 2020 the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a Covid-19 pandemic and urged authorities to locate, isolate, test and treat each case and trace every contact. The monitoring of workers’ health is subject to specific protocols, which in this case take the form of the Procedure for Action for Occupational Health & Safety  against Exposure to SARS CoV-19. From the outset, the drawing up of this protocol in the Basque Country entailed integrated action by H&S services in the monitoring network for Covid-19 cases and contacts in the region.

The figures show that since November 2020 a total of 19,471 cases of Covid-19 have been addressed at 17,260 firms, with 22,696 close contacts at work since September, 294 outbreaks and 7,178 temporary invalidity certificates due to close contact since December 2020.  The effects of vaccination can be observed in health and socio-sanitary personnel since March 2021 and in other groups since June.

Health and safety services need to be thorough in collective health monitoring. This service must be factored into public health activities, which need to be led by the public authorities as has been done during the current pandemic.