Even if the aftereffects of the new corona are recognized as industrial accidents, the national government calls for consultation with the Labor Bureau.

As the number of people infected with the new coronavirus in the workplace and recognized as an industrial accident is increasing, it was found that a man in Hyogo prefecture who suffers from the aftereffects of the new corona has been certified as an industrial accident again.

The government is calling for consultation, saying that symptoms that are sequelae are also subject to industrial accidents.

A man in his 40s working as a physiotherapist at a special nursing home for the elderly in Hyogo Prefecture was found to have suffered an industrial accident as a sequela of the new corona.

The man became a close contact because a home user was infected with the new corona, and was found to be infected by a PCR test last December, after which he was recognized as an industrial accident.

After receiving medical treatment for nearly two months, I returned to work, but I have been taking a break from work again since April because of severe malaise, shortness of breath, and dysgeusia.

The doctor diagnosed it as a sequela of the new corona.

When a man applied to the Labor Standards Inspection Office again, he was reminded of an industrial accident in August, saying that "these symptoms have a causal relationship with the new corona infected at work."

The man is still unable to work, and with the support of his wife and 5-year-old daughter who live with him, he is devoting himself to medical treatment at home.

The man said, "I was really relieved when the work-related accident was recognized for the aftereffects. I am sorry that I can not play with my child like moving my body. I will do my best to get back to work as soon as possible. I want to go. "

The national government is calling on people with similar worries to consult with the Labor Standards Inspection Office, saying that cases of sequelae are also subject to industrial accidents.

Cases that require medical treatment or leave due to sequelae are subject to industrial accidents

The National Center for Global Health and Medicine conducted an interview survey of 457 people who recovered from the new corona between February and March last year about their subsequent symptoms.

As a result, even after half a year, 26.3% of people had symptoms such as abnormal sense of smell and taste, malaise and shortness of breath.

In addition, 8.8% of people had these symptoms even one year after the onset.

The national government says that when infected with the new coronavirus in connection with work, cases such as sequelae that require prolonged medical treatment or leave of absence are also subject to industrial accidents.

According to the Compensation Division of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, "In addition to cases where the new corona is infected, there are many cases in which the symptoms do not heal and prolong. Please consult with the nearby Labor Standards Inspection Office first."

Approximately 14,500 people infected during work and certified as industrial accidents by the end of September

According to a summary by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, by the end of September, 14,567 people nationwide had been infected with the new coronavirus during work and were recognized as industrial accidents.

Looking at the breakdown, the total number of people working in medical care and welfare, such as doctors, nurses, and caregivers, is 11,214, accounting for more than 70% of the total.

In addition, workers in various industries, such as 376 in the "transportation / postal industry", 315 in the "manufacturing industry", and 245 in the "accommodation / restaurant service industry", are also recognized as having industrial accidents.

NPO corporation "The country is well known"

Kazuhiro Nishiyama, the secretary general of the NPO Hyogo Occupational Safety and Health Center, which is working to support infected workers and improve the workplace environment over the new coronavirus, said, "People who continue to have aftereffects after being infected with the new corona at work. It is important to let people know that it will be recognized as an industrial accident again. I want the country to know it well. "