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Workers’ Compensation and the Coronavirus

March 19, 2020

By Richard P. Gaitens, Esquire

Many people are carrying on with their jobs in the face of an unprecedented pandemic. What are the options if someone should contract the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) during the course of their employment?

The Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor, Jerry Oleksiak, announced on March 16, 2020, that workers in Pennsylvania who are affected by the virus may be eligible for Workers’ Compensation benefits. If you believe you contracted the virus due to exposure at your job, you should:

  • Notify your employer and have them file a typical “disease-as-injury” Workers’ Compensation claim, which requires you to provide medical evidence that you were exposed to COVID-19 in the workplace.
  • Notify your employer to file an “occupational disease” Workers’ Compensation claim, which requires you to show that Coronavirus is occurring more in your occupation/industry than in the general population.

The Secretary of Labor reiterates that all Workers’ Compensation claims (including Coronavirus) are thoroughly reviewed and decisions are made based on the facts and merits of each claim. If you have questions about Worker’s Comp and the Coronavirus, please reach out to our Workers’ Compensation attorneys. We can be reached online or by phone at (412) 338-1177.

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