Recognition of COVID-19 with occupational origin: a comparison between European countries
Evelien Nys, Sara Pauwels, Balázs Ádám, João Amaro, Athanasios E. Athanasiou, Osnat Bashkin, Tatjana Kofol Bric, Petar Bulat, Çiğdem Çağlayan, Irina Guseva Canu, Serghei Cebanu, Barbara Charbotel, Jolanta Cīrule, Stefania Curti, Nadav Davidovitch, Keren Dopelt, Metoda Dodič-Fikfak, Heikki Frilander, Per Gustavsson, Anje Christina Höper, Sibel Kıran, Manolis Kogevinas, Ferenc Kudász, Henrik Albert Kolstad, Sanja Brekalo Lazarević, Jelena Macan, Nicole Majery, Alessandro Marinaccio, Dana Mateș, Stefano Mattioli, Damien McElvenny, Zakia Médiouni, Ingrid Sivesind Mehlum, Eda Merisalu, Dragan Mijakoski, Evangelia Nena, Peter Noone, Marina Ruxandra Oțelea, Daniela Pelclová, Nurka Pranjić, Mark Rosso, Cònsol Serra, Lesley Rushton, Abdülsamet Sandal, Eva Schernhammer, Sasho Stoleski, Michelle C. Turner, Henk F. van der Molen, Marek Varga, Jolanta Walusiak‐Skorupa, Kurt Straíf, Lode Godderis
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to present an overview of the formal recognition of COVID-19 as occupational disease (OD) or injury (OI) across Europe. METHODS: A COVID-19 questionnaire was designed by a task group within COST-funded OMEGA-NET and sent to occupational health experts of 37 countries in WHO European region, with a last update in April 2022. RESULTS: The questionnaire was filled out by experts from 35 countries. There are large differences between national systems regarding the recognition of OD and OI: 40% of countries have a list system, 57% a mixed system and one country an open system. In most countries, COVID-19 can be recognised as an OD (57%). In four countries, COVID-19 can be recognised as OI (11%) and in seven countries as either OD or OI (20%). In two countries, there is no recognition possible to date. Thirty-two countries (91%) recognise COVID-19 as OD/OI among healthcare workers. Working in certain jobs is considered proof of occupational exposure in 25 countries, contact with a colleague with confirmed infection in 19 countries, and contact with clients with confirmed infection in 21 countries. In most countries (57%), a positive PCR test is considered proof of disease. The three most common compensation benefits for COVID-19 as OI/OD are disability pension, treatment and rehabilitation. Long COVID is included in 26 countries. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 can be recognised as OD or OI in 94% of the European countries completing this survey, across different social security and embedded occupational health systems.