Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has attracted worldwide attention for its rapid and exponential diffusion. The history of past human coronavirus outbreaks resulting in similar health emergencies suggests there will be post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) among COVID-19 survivors. This might add to the increasing stress that health care professionals are enduring.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and the determinant factors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among health care workers with COVID-19.

Methods A two-group cross-sectional study among health care workers (150 cases of COVID-19 and 150 randomly sampled matched controls) was conducted. We present the preliminary results of 91 cases of COVID-19. Demographic data, occupational information and some psychological dimensions were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Post-traumatic stress disorder was evaluated using the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist based on the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Results The average age of the population was 36.5 ± 9.35 years, with a female predominance and a sex ratio of 0.21. The most represented professional categories were nurses and medical residents. The acute clinical manifestations lasted between 10 to 20 days in 41% of the patients. Moderate to severe levels of anxiety and depression were noted among respectively 27.5% and 14% of the population. PTSD was found among 8.8% of the study population. Significant correlations were found between COVID-19-PTSD scores and caring for children or parents (p=10^-3), anxiety level (p=10^-3), being admitted to the hospital (p=0.008) and the symptoms presented (p=0.003).

Conclusion These preliminary results are relevant from a clinical point of view because they suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic could be considered as a traumatic event among health care workers. Psychological and organizational interventions to counteract short- and long-term psychopathological effects, consequent to the COVID-19 pandemic, appear to be necessary.