[Incidence of COVID-19 in health workers. Work activity and home protection]

The COVID-19 pandemic has had repercussions in the social, economic, psychological and health spheres, for which risk and exposure groups have been identified. Health workers are distinguished from the rest of the population by constant contact with patients carrying the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

To determine the difference in the incidence of COVID-19 in health workers who remain in work activity and those who shelter at home.

Cohort study in health workers from March 2020 to January 2021. Two groups were integrated, the exposed group made up of workers who remained working in the health unit (n = 4650) and the non-exposed group, those who carried out home protection (n = 337). When the groups were integrated, none had a diagnosis of COVID-19, they were followed up for 11 months and when COVID-19 was diagnosed, it was done with a PCR test. Statistical analysis included incidence rate, confidence intervals, Chi square, relative risk, and confidence interval for relative risk.

The incidence of COVID-19 in workers in home shelter was 39.8% (95% CI: 34.6-45.0) and in workers who remained in the medical unit 16.0% (95% CI: 14.9-17.1). The relative risk was 0.40 (95% CI: 0.34-0.47) for workers who remained working in the health unit.

The incidence of COVID-19 was higher in health workers with home protection than in those who continued with normal activities in the medical unit.