tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Public Health Rep
. 2021 Feb 22;33354921999171.
doi: 10.1177/0033354921999171. Online ahead of print.
Media Reports as a Tool for Timely Monitoring of COVID-19-Related Deaths Among First Responders-United States, April 2020
Kaitlin Kelly-Reif[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jessica L Rinsky[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sophia K Chiu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sherry Burrer[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Marie A de Perio[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Alexis Grimes Trotter[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sarah Selica Miura[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jennifer Y Seo[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Rick Hong[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Lee Friedman[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Julie Hand[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Gillian Richardson[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Theresa Sokol[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Emily H Sparer-Fine[SUP] 8 [/SUP], James Laing[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Anthony Oliveri[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Katharine McGreevy[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Marija Borjan[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Laurel Harduar-Morano[SUP] 11 12 [/SUP], Sara E Luckhaupt[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
We aimed to describe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) deaths among first responders early in the COVID-19 pandemic. We used media reports to gather timely information about COVID-19-related deaths among first responders during March 30-April 30, 2020, and evaluated the sensitivity of media scanning compared with traditional surveillance. We abstracted information about demographic characteristics, occupation, underlying conditions, and exposure source. Twelve of 19 US public health jurisdictions with data on reported deaths provided verification, and 7 jurisdictions reported whether additional deaths had occurred; we calculated the sensitivity of media scanning among these 7 jurisdictions. We identified 97 COVID-19-related first-responder deaths during the study period through media and jurisdiction reports. Participating jurisdictions reported 5 deaths not reported by the media. Sixty-six decedents worked in law enforcement, and 31 decedents worked in fire/emergency medical services. Media reports rarely noted underlying conditions. The media scan sensitivity was 88% (95% CI, 73%-96%) in the subset of 7 jurisdictions. Media reports demonstrated high sensitivity in documenting COVID-19-related deaths among first responders; however, information on risk factors was scarce. Routine collection of data on industry and occupation could improve understanding of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality among all workers.
Keywords: COVID-19; first responders; surveillance; workplace.
. 2021 Feb 22;33354921999171.
doi: 10.1177/0033354921999171. Online ahead of print.
Media Reports as a Tool for Timely Monitoring of COVID-19-Related Deaths Among First Responders-United States, April 2020
Kaitlin Kelly-Reif[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jessica L Rinsky[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sophia K Chiu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sherry Burrer[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Marie A de Perio[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Alexis Grimes Trotter[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sarah Selica Miura[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jennifer Y Seo[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Rick Hong[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Lee Friedman[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Julie Hand[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Gillian Richardson[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Theresa Sokol[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Emily H Sparer-Fine[SUP] 8 [/SUP], James Laing[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Anthony Oliveri[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Katharine McGreevy[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Marija Borjan[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Laurel Harduar-Morano[SUP] 11 12 [/SUP], Sara E Luckhaupt[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33617374
- DOI: 10.1177/0033354921999171
Abstract
We aimed to describe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) deaths among first responders early in the COVID-19 pandemic. We used media reports to gather timely information about COVID-19-related deaths among first responders during March 30-April 30, 2020, and evaluated the sensitivity of media scanning compared with traditional surveillance. We abstracted information about demographic characteristics, occupation, underlying conditions, and exposure source. Twelve of 19 US public health jurisdictions with data on reported deaths provided verification, and 7 jurisdictions reported whether additional deaths had occurred; we calculated the sensitivity of media scanning among these 7 jurisdictions. We identified 97 COVID-19-related first-responder deaths during the study period through media and jurisdiction reports. Participating jurisdictions reported 5 deaths not reported by the media. Sixty-six decedents worked in law enforcement, and 31 decedents worked in fire/emergency medical services. Media reports rarely noted underlying conditions. The media scan sensitivity was 88% (95% CI, 73%-96%) in the subset of 7 jurisdictions. Media reports demonstrated high sensitivity in documenting COVID-19-related deaths among first responders; however, information on risk factors was scarce. Routine collection of data on industry and occupation could improve understanding of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality among all workers.
Keywords: COVID-19; first responders; surveillance; workplace.