While the state of Connecticut is among the shining examples of how to handle the Coronavirus pandemic today, at the early stages of the disease the state was a hotspot. Now, Governor Lamont has issued an executive order that allows essential workers who contracted COVID-19 in the early days of the pandemic to file a workers’ compensation claim and benefit from a “rebuttable presumption.”
The executive order covers the period of March 10th through May 20th and allows essential workers to claim the disease as a rebuttable presumption which directs the courts to make an assumption that the worker’s claims of injury are true unless evidence is presented to otherwise prove it wrong.
The order makes the application for such compensation pretty straightforward only requiring that the worker present evidence that he/she contracted the illness and received a positive laboratory test within three weeks of the injury.
Any worker who believes they contracted COVID-19 at their work place should file a workers’ compensation claim. However, those who are covered by the executive order are afforded these extra rights.
The complete text of the Governor’s Executive Order is here.
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with COVID-19 during the time period covered by the executive order and need assistance in filing your claim, you may want to speak to a board certified attorney. Contact our office immediately for assistance.
