Having survived a current corona infection does not mean that you are fit again. There are many who are not as resilient as before for the practice of profession. The symptoms range from persistent shortness of breath, states of exhaustion, palpitations to blood pressure problems. According to a study published in March by King’s College in London, more than every tenth corona patient who has survived an acute infection suffers from long-term consequences.
With such long-term consequences (the so-called long covid), some people sometimes only get back to work fully after a long time – or maybe not at all. Those affected must also continue to receive medical care because they are still sick.
When it can be an accident at work
Those who are insured and have been proven to be infected with the coronavirus at work are virtually lucky in misfortune. According to the Verdi service union, you may be able to receive benefits from statutory accident insurance – up to and including a pension.
A high level of humidity, tight communal accommodation too close to work – there have been more corona outbreaks in major German slaughterhouses
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Illness after being infected with the coronavirus at work can definitely be classified as an occupational accident. In any case, according to the social law expert Katrin Willnecke from Verdi, if there are any indications. According to her, one can assume the likelihood of infection in the professional environment “if several employees in a department or company are sick or there is evidence of contact with sick employees or customers.” Therefore, she advises, even if the infections are symptom-free, the prevention service of the responsible trade association or the statutory accident insurance company should be turned on. Then it will be determined whether the working conditions may have played a role in the spread of the virus.
In such cases, employers are also required to report suspicious activity to the trade association. Katrin Willnecke emphasizes that if no report is filed in the event of a suspicion, the employees can take this into their own hands. An email or an informal letter to the responsible professional or accident insurance company with the sentence “I apply for recognition of my infection with Covid 19 as an occupational accident” is sufficient.
“Cause of the accident: contact with other people”
For employees in some occupational groups, an illness with Covid 19 at the workplace is already recognized as an occupational disease. This includes, for example, employees in health care, welfare and in laboratories for scientific and medical examinations. This also applies to hairdressers, beauticians or employees of opticians who carry out so-called facial activities. Not to mention foot care. Here, too, you work closely with people and there is therefore a higher risk of infection.
For employees in many other industries, says Katrin Willnecke, the point is to check whether there is an accident at work because it can be proven that they had contact with other people during their work. These include, for example, the areas of local and long-distance public transport, logistics and retail, as well as delivery agents. In addition, there are also employees in childcare and student care, as well as flight personnel and employees at airports.
“Long-term consequences in up to 30 percent of the sick”
If the infection is recognized as an occupational accident, this has a number of advantages for those affected. The responsible accident insurance company pays for the test, the medical treatment and bears the costs for any necessary medical, social and professional rehabilitation. This includes wage replacement costs as well as retraining measures. And those who remain permanently disabled in the event of long-term consequences, adds Katrin Willnecke, “receives a pension”. In the event of death, the survivors could benefit. In view of the uncertainty of many employees with a Covid disease, the service union Verdi has put together the most important information in a practical guide.
Hairdressers who work with people over a long period of time and without any distance are exposed to an increased risk of infection with corona
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Doctors meanwhile do not rule out that up to 30 percent of those suffering from Covid 19 can suffer from long-term consequences. Many of them are unlikely to be able to practice their traditional profession. In such cases, disability insurance also provides financial security.
Insurance protection, explains Peter Grieble from the Baden-Württemberg consumer center, takes effect “if the previous occupation can no longer be practiced to a considerable extent, usually 50 percent, after a long period of time due to illness or an accident.” Usually after six months. The consumer advisor emphasizes that this applies to long-term effects after a corona illness as well as to any other illness. However, only with existing insurance.
And for the time after Corona, Peter Grieble advises employees to truthfully answer questions about health when concluding a contract. Even those after previous respiratory diseases. Otherwise there is a risk “that in the event of a later occupational disability the insurer will not pay a cent. And because that is so important, it makes a lot of sense to discuss the answers to the health questions with your own doctor beforehand.”
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