- That the numbers are so low in Skåne, I think is because we never had a peak of infection during the spring, says Malin Tillgren, chairman of the Healthcare Association's department in Skåne.
- Since then, we have learned a lot about the disease along the way.
Initially, there was no knowledge of how important the protective equipment is, but when the infection began to spread in Skåne, that knowledge was greater.
Encourages everyone to sign up
Until 1 November, Skåne had received reports of occupational injuries due to covid-19 from 90 nurses and 1 biomedical analyst.
The care association now urges all its members to report covid-19 as an occupational injury.
They fear that the number of cases in the dark is high and that many who get milder symptoms choose not to report their illness to the Swedish Work Environment Authority.
Malin Tillgren is chairman of the Healthcare Association's department in Skåne.
Photo: Press image Vårdförbundet
- We still know very little about covid-19.
We do not know if a mild variant of the disease can cause damage to the lungs in the future.
Therefore, it is important that all healthcare staff who become infected report it as an occupational injury or occupational disease, says Malin Tillgren at the Swedish Medical Association.
The care association's hope now that the Swedish Social Insurance Agency's rules regarding covid-19 will be changed, so that it can be counted as an occupational disease and thus be entitled to compensation.
- The care staff work hard and risk their lives in this pandemic.
Giving them compensation if they become ill at work should be a matter of course.