Abstract

Aim: The devastating consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak have forced security personnel to alter their methods and behaviors. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, functioning and future implications  of COVID-19 on the lives of security guards.
Methodology: A cross sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among the 296 security guards of Bhubaneswar city. A 18-item, closed-ended, self-structured questionnaire was designed to gather data. The questionnaire was designed on a 2 point likert scale. Data were analysed using IBM's SPSS version 26.0 for the Social Sciences. The frequency and percentages were used to describe categorical values. Chi-Square test and ANOVA were employed. The level of significance was fixed at 0.05.
 
Results: The majority of participants were between the ages of 31 and 40 (n=132, 44.6%) and that between 13,000 and 15,000 was the average monthly income for the security guards. All the participants were aware about the COVID -19 pandemic and its affect on human body. Sixty three personnel had been detected positive for COVID-19 and none of them used any preventive measures. About 97% of the guards agreed that the pandemic had an influence on their work. Only 3% of the guards had taken on other jobs as a secondary source of income.
Conclusion: Security guards are an essential group of front-line healthcare providers offering additional services in the management of COVID-19.COVID-19 had a great impact on the economic lives of the security guards.