Personal and occupational experiences of COVID-19 and their effects on South African health workers’ wellbeing

To the Editor: COVID-19-related psychological stressors and health risks among health workers are increasingly reported, particularly among those who are hospital based and are directly responsible for caring for patients with COVID-19.[1-4] We report findings from an online survey conducted between September and November 2020 in the Amajuba District of KwaZulu-Natal, reflecting experiences of the first COVID-19 wave. It investigated risk factors for severe COVID-19, experience of COVID-19-related problems, causes of anxiety, and effects on psychological wellbeing. The survey was completed as part of an intervention intended to support primary care workers in managing COVID-19 in the context of a high tuberculosis burden, and to address their psychological wellbeing.