UK healthcare workers seven times more likely to develop severe coronavirus during first lockdown, study finds

Researchers say the study highlights the need to ensure key workers are adequately protected, writes Andy Gregory

NHS staff administer the first doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in the UK (Dan Charity/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Those working on the front lines against coronavirus during the UK’s first lockdown were up to seven times more likely to become severely infected, new research suggests.

A University of Glasgow-led study of more than 120,000 employees aged 49 to 64 indicated that those in healthcare roles were seven times more likely to be hospitalised or killed with the virus. 

And those with jobs in the social care and transport sectors were found to be twice as likely to suffer such outcomes, which the researchers said emphasises the need to ensure that key workers are adequately protected against infection.