Coronavirus tracked: How safe is your job from Covid-19 exposure?

Data analysis reveals which occupations have highest potential exposure to virus

Lockdown rules in the UK are beginning to loosen, allowing millions of people to return to work.

The government has issued guidelines for “working safely during coronavirus”, however those returning to work may still be exposed depending on their profession.

By combining data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) and the US Department of Labor, it is possible to estimate which occupations are most at risk to the Covid-19 virus.

The ONS based its estimates for UK occupations on US analysis of these factors. The analysis took place in 2019, before social distancing and other protective measures were introduced.

As expected, healthcare workers are most exposed to disease, while also coming in regular close proximity to others.

“There is a clear correlation between exposure to disease, and physical proximity to others across all occupations,” the ONS notes.

“Healthcare workers such as nurses and dental practitioners unsurprisingly both involve being exposed to disease on a daily basis, and they require close contact with others, though during the pandemic they are more likely to be using PPE.”

The data analysis reveals that dental and medical nurses are most frequently exposed to diseases while at work.

They also rank highly when it comes to proximity with others, with dental nurses ranking as the most dangerous for both metrics.

By contrast, artists, designers and those in typical office jobs scored low on both measures.

Many of the jobs listed as safe, or relatively safe, are those that have been furloughed in the UK, while the most at risk occupations are more often those on the front line, fighting the coronavirus outbreak.