Results
Testing for SARS-CoV-2 RNA was performed by real time RT-PCR on throat and nose swab samples taken from HCWs from Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUHNFT) and their symptomatic household contacts. Over the new study period (25th April 2020 to 24th May 2020), 2,611 additional tests were performed in the HCW asymptomatic screening arm, 555 additional tests in the HCW symptomatic screening arm and 216 additional tests in the HCW household contact screening arm. A further six tests did not have a clearly recorded arm of origin. Over the entire study period, the median age of HCWs was 36.5 years, and 35.5 years for their household contacts. 68.4% were female and 31.6% were male. Of individuals testing positive over the whole study period, the median age of HCWs was 32 and 47 years for their household contacts. 77.9% of all positive tests were from females and 22.1% from males. Table 1 summarises the total number of HCWs testing positive through either arm of the screening programme, according to job role. Comparison of the proportions of hospital employees from each job role that tested positive through the HCW symptomatic screening arm revealed no statistically significant difference (Pearson’s chi-square test p=0.419). Reasonable comparison of the proportions testing positive through the HCW asymptomatic screening arm was not possible due to non-random sampling of different areas of the hospital, meaning some job roles had been more frequently targeted for asymptomatic screening than others.