The investigators aim to determine the immune status of the employees of the cantonal police of Bern against SARS-CoV-2 over a period of 1 year, and to investigate the risk profile of the study participants and their risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in their working and private environments, as well as to evaluate the use of personal protective equipment at potential exposure instances.
i) To determine the extent of infection with seroprevalence data in the special population of
police officers of the canton Bern.
ii) To determine risk factors for infection by comparing the proportion of seropositivity
(infected versus noninfected individuals). The investigators hypothesize that police officers
with fieldwork activity will have a higher seroprevalence than will office and administration
personnel. The investigators hypothesize that working in the city of Bern will be associated
with a higher seroprevalence than will working in other geographic areas of the canton (i.e.
rural area).
iii) To monitor COVID-19 antibody titres and neutralizing capacity over time and to associate
them with reinfection rates and infection-free intervals in police officers after accidental
contact with a proven COVID-19 case. The investigators hypothesize that in seropositive
individuals, there will be a decreasing dynamic of antibody titres over the one-year study
period, and hence, a decrease of neutralizing capacity.
Diagnostic Test: Blood sampling
Testing for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies
Other: Online Questionnaire
Questions on working place, risk profiles and PPE
Inclusion Criteria:
- Police officers of the cantonal police of Bern volunteering to participate in the
study.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Refusal or inability to give informed consent or contraindication to venepuncture.
University of Bern, Institute for Infectious Diseases
Bern, BE, Switzerland
Parham Sendi, MD, Principal Investigator
University of Bern