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COVID-19 farm outbreaks in Ontario, January-December 2020
Hetal Patel1, Ana Ulloa2, Sarah Buchan1,2
1Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
Summary
Farm outbreaks in Ontario during 2020 saw 2,202 COVID-19 cases, with most occurring in spring and fall. Greenhouse farms experienced outbreaks even during lower summer transmission periods.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Farm workers are essential to Ontario's food supply chain.
- They face significant occupational risks for COVID-19 transmission.
- This study examines farm outbreaks in Ontario during the first year of the pandemic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the epidemiology of farm outbreaks in Ontario in 2020.
- To analyze trends in outbreaks by season and farm type.
- To understand the characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 cases in farm outbreaks.
Main Methods:
- Extracted data on farm outbreaks and COVID-19 cases in Ontario from Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2020.
- Characterized outbreaks by size, season, farm type, and duration.
- Analyzed case demographics, medical history, symptoms, and outcomes.
Main Results:
- 64 farm outbreaks and 2,202 COVID-19 cases were identified in 2020.
- Most outbreaks occurred in spring (39.1%) and fall (39.1%).
- Greenhouse farms had outbreaks in summer (83.3%) despite low community transmission; median outbreak size was 14.5 cases, median duration 23 days.
Conclusions:
- Farm outbreaks were a significant source of COVID-19 transmission and illness in Ontario in 2020.
- Spring and fall seasons were peak periods for farm outbreaks.
- Greenhouse farms remained sites of transmission even with reduced community spread.
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