Prevalence and Incidence of Antibodies Against SARS-CoV-2 Among Primary Healthcare Providers in Belgium (COVID-19)

Prevalence and Incidence of Antibodies Against SARS-CoV-2 Among Primary Healthcare Providers in Belgium During One Year of the COVID-19 Epidemic

This protocol focuses on the seroprevalence in primary care health care providers (PHCPs) in Belgium.

PHCPs manage the vast majority of COVID-19 and other patients and therefore are essential to organize health care efficiently. Currently however, evidence is lacking on

1. how many PHCPs get infected or diseased in Belgium,
2. the rate at which this happens,
3. their clinical spectrum,
4. their risk factors,
5. the effectiveness of the measures to prevent this from happening and
6. the accuracy of the immunological serology-based point-of-care test in a primary care setting.

This study will be set up as a prospective cohort study. All Belgian GPs in clinical practice will be invited to register online for participation in this national epidemiological study and will be asked to invite the other PHCPs in their practice to do the same. A model and demography-informed sample of registered GPs and other PHCPs will be selected. These participants will be asked at each testing point to perform a capillary blood sample antibody point of care test (OrientGene®) and complete an online questionnaire. All data analysis will be performed and reported after each relevant testing period and at the end of the study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Any Belgian general practitioner (GP) (including those in professional training) currently working in primary care and any other primary health care providers (PHCPs) from the same GP practice who physically manage (examine, test, treat) patients/clients (frontline PHCP), are able to comply with the study protocol and provided informed consent to participate in the study. Also PHCPs having been diagnosed with COVID-19 are included.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Staff hired on a temporary (interim) basis will be excluded as follow-up over time will be compromised.
• Administrative staff or technical staff without any contact with patients/clients will also be excluded.
• PHCPs who were not active during the inclusion period will automatically be excluded.