The COVID-19 global pandemic has exposed some of the challenges that face our healthcare providers in battling airborne illness. Some of these challenges have included poor air filtration in hospitals, PPE that is only designed specifically for males, leaving female medical professionals with loose fitting PPE that is not protecting them against the virus, and the need for close contact between provider and patient.
These challenges exposed the healthcare industry to issues that may have been covered up in the past, but are now cause for concern. These issues may be a cause for a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim by these medical providers.
There is some hope being provided to these medical professionals as some hospitals have started to introduce PAPRs (Power Air Purifying Respirators.) These devices help medical providers avoid exposure to COVID-19 by purifying the air around them as they move throughout the hospital. These devices have been shown to be effective at stopping the spread of the virus to medical providers.
Throughout the course of the pandemic one of our hardest hit populations has been our medical providers. These doctors, nurses, and EMTs have been on the frontline of the fight against this deadly disease and they have borne the brunt of the infections while working to protect and save our lives and the lives of our loved ones.
Governor Lamont provided for a claim to be filed by workers who were exposed to COVID-19 while on the job over the early days of the pandemic. This order has not been extended to include contraction of COVID-19 while at work as the pandemic has continued on. However, there may be a case to be made for a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim if an employer did not provide proper PPE that was snug fitting and truly protected against contraction of the disease.
As hospitals and medical facilities begin to return to some level of normalcy and you have had time to take a breath, you may discover that your COVID-19 diagnosis was a result of the work you did, you may want to contact a board certified attorney to review your case and help guide you through your claim.
