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Cohort studyAmerican journal of industrial medicine · 2026

Mortality Risks by Occupation During the Early Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in New York City.

Blanca Bernard-Davila, Wenhui Li, Kacie Seil … Gretchen Van Wye

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Infectious DiseaseCohort study

Food preparation and serving workers had the highest COVID-19 mortality rate in early New York City pandemic.

Mortality Risks by Occupation During the Early Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in New York City.

Blanca Bernard-Davila et al. · American journal of industrial medicine · 2026

Background

Social determinants of health play a crucial role as part of interlinking factors that shape health.

Purpose

To determine the highest mortality burden of COVID-19 by occupation in NYC during the early pandemic time period, we analyzed NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) death certificate data.

Methods

We analyzed confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths among individuals 18-64 years using data from NYCDOHMH, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the American Community Survey (ACS).

n = 3591,

182.1

Results

per 100,000 population

this was the highest number of COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 food workers

n = 3591,

More results

Stratified mortality rates indicated that older adults, males, and minority racial and ethnic groups were disproportionally affected.

More than half of decedents aged 18-64 were foreign-born (n = 3591, 59.2%).

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

Our analysis highlights the inequities of COVID-19 deaths across occupations in NYC. It informs future studies and tailored interventions that target high-risk populations.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

This knowledge will ideally lead to more equitable, protective responses to future pandemics.

Post

Mortality Risks by Occupation During the Early Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in New York City.

Food preparation and serving workers had the highest COVID-19 mortality rate in early New York City pandemic.

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