A new report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) finds that nearly one quarter of the U.S. workforce — about 37.7 million workers — who contract COVID-19 virus are at risk of developing severe illness.

That number includes 10 million workers who are 65 or older, and 27.7 million deemed to be at higher risk for severe illness from the virus because of pre-existing medical conditions, including diabetes, asthma, heart or or chronic pulmonary disease, obesity or cancer-related conditions.

The report, published June 15, comes as states lift restrictions and businesses, beaches and public spaces slowly reopen — some cautiously, others eager pushing to get back to their old "normal" as quickly as possible.

KFF President and CEO Drew Altman said many employers "are largely on their own to develop policies to reopen safely."

"These data suggest employers should take into account the higher risk some workers will face, allowing them to work at home where possible, to be tested and to minimize their risks if they return to work," said Altman in a statement announcing the findings.

Chart on individuals at risk of COVID infection

The report, based on data from the 2018 National Health Interview Survey, also estimated that another 12 million adults at high risk from the disease are not employed but share households with workers.

"For this group, indirect exposure could be just as serious of a risk as going to work themselves," the report said. In addition, among the segment of non-elderly working adults, those most at risk were older than those not at risk, with the former group averaging 45 years of age as compared to 40 for the latter. That finding reflects the fact that the risk of incurring a chronic condition or poorer health rises with age.

There was also a slight disparity by gender: Half of at-risk non-elderly adult workers are women, while 46% of non-elderly adult workers are not at risk.

The majority of at-risk workers have full-time jobs: 86% of non-elderly employees work at least 35 hours a week, as do 61% of those 65 and older.

These workers "have substantial connection to work and may face economic difficulties remaining absent from their jobs even if safety is a question," the report said.

"As more workplaces reopen there will be increasing pressures for all workers, including those at higher risk, to return to jobs or seek new jobs outside of their homes," it said.

The average non-elderly adult at-risk worker earned $48,400 in 2018, while those not at risk earned $51,900, the report said. The workers 65 and older, the average earnings were $49,100 in 2018; one-quarter of those workers earned less than $17,300 that year.

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Nearly 1 in 4 workers are at higher risk of contracting severe COVID-19

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