Minister Humphreys said that given widespread community transmission of Covid-19 it was “unclear” to her how it could be proven “with reasonable certainty” as to whether a person had got sick in work or not. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA WireA Government minister vigorously opposed making Covid-19 an occupational illness saying it would be impossible to figure out whether somebody had contracted the disease in work or not.
The European Commission had recommended special recognition for the illness especially when it came to the health and caring sectors. Yet, Ms Humphreys said people who could not attend work because of Covid-19 already had access to the full range of supports for workers who were sick, including those with other transmissible diseases.
The issue of designating a disease as an occupational illness for social welfare purposes extends beyond the health and care sectors into other sectors.” In a response in September, Mr Donnelly said he was concerned that Ireland would now be an “outlier” as it was one of only two EU states that had not taken steps to recognise Covid-19 as an occupational illness. He said frontline workers in the health sector had to work directly with Covid-19 positive patients and workplace transmission “could be assumed” in those circumstances.