SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in employees working in non-medical contact-intensive professions in the Netherlands: Baseline data from the prospective COco-study

COVID-19 has made a global impact since early 2020, requiring characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including transmission risk. The COco-study aims to evaluate the risk for COVID-19 infections in two non-medical contact-intensive professions. COco is a prospective cohort study evaluating SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in hairdressers and hospitality personnel in the province of North-Brabant in the Netherlands, using a total antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Baseline data from June/July 2020 were analyzed. Participants filled out a questionnaire, providing information on demographics, health, work situation, and risk factors for COVID-19. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using logistic regression. In June/July 2020, 497 participants were enrolled: 236 hairdressers, 259 hospitality employees, and two participants worked in both industries. Hospitality staff was more frequently seropositive than hairdressers (14.2% versus 8.0%, respectively; OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1–3.4). Furthermore, a high education level (OR 3.0, 95% CI: 1.7–5.6) and increased alcohol use (OR, 7 glasses per week increment: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1–1.5) were associated with seropositivity. Of the 56 seropositive participants, 18 (32%) had not experienced any COVID-19 symptoms. The symptoms anosmia/ageusia differed most evidently between seropositive and seronegative participants (53.6% versus 5.7%, respectively; P < 0.001 (chi-squared test)). In conclusion, four months after the first identified COVID-19 patient in the Netherlands, employees in the hospitality industry had significantly more frequently detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies than hairdressers.