nhc.gov.cn (20.01.2020) According to the relevant provisions of the Law on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, based on the current understanding of the etiology, epidemiology, and clinical characteristics of new coronavirus-infected pneumonia, the State Council approved the agreement and the National Health and Health Commission decided to infect the new coronavirus Pneumonia is included in the management of statutory infectious diseases category B, and preventive and control measures for category A infectious diseases are adopted. New coronavirus-infected pneumonia is included in the management of statutory infectious diseases. People's governments at all levels, health administrative departments, other government departments, and medical and health institutions can take a series of preventive and control measures such as patient isolation treatment and close contact person isolation medical observation according to law to jointly prevent Control the spread of pneumonia outbreaks of new coronavirus infections.

mohrss.gov.cn (23.01.2020) The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Ministry of Finance and the National Health Commission jointly released an announcement on insurance matters for healthcare workers and other employees infected with Covid-19 when fulfilling job responsibilities will count as work injuries. Workers will qualify for work injury insurance reimbursement, and local fiscal authorities should provide assistance when needed.

mohrss.gov.cn (12.02.2020) The provinces and autonomous regions will announce the online handling platforms within their jurisdictions that have achieved stable job returns to online claiming cities (states and alliances), and will take the initiative through SMS push, website link, handling reminders and other methods. Docking, proactive service, promote "no-face" approval, allocate funds as soon as possible, support enterprises to stabilize jobs, and properly respond to the impact of the epidemic.

The ILO Bureau for Workers' Activities (ACTRAV) has published a coprehensive analysis of  Government responses to COVID-19. 

Governments' Responses to COVID-19 (Countries A-L)
Governments' Responses to COVID-19 (Countries M-Z)

fonctionpublique.gouv.cd (23.03.2020)

Ainsi au regard de ces mesures, les dispositions suivantes sont de stricte application : 1.Seul le personnel essentiel est tenu d’assurer le service minimum ; 2.Aucun bureau ne peut abriter plus de 5 (cinq) agents ; 3.Les lave-mains sont placés dans toutes les entrées des Bâtiments administratifs ; 4.Les entrées et sorties au sein desdits Bâtiments seront contrôlées et filtrées ainsi qu’un prélèvement de la température des Agents et visiteurs seront observées ; 5.Toute personne dont la température est au moins 37,5° n’aura pas accès aux Bâtiments.

Le Covid-19 peut-il être reconnu comme une maladie professionnelle?

Oui, il peut s’agir d’une maladie professionnelle, à condition que les collaborateurs exerçant l’activité professionnelle en question soient exposés à un risque bien plus élevé de contracter le coronavirus que le reste de la population. Il ne suffit pas que la personne ait été contaminée plus ou moins fortuitement sur son lieu de travail. Chaque cas doit être étudié de façon approfondie. Le risque peut être bien plus élevé pour le personnel des hôpitaux, des laboratoires, etc., qui sont en contact direct avec des personnes ou des objets infectés dans le cadre de leur activité. De même, les collaborateurs des EMS ainsi que des foyers pour personnes handicapées peuvent être exposés à un risque considérablement plus élevé dans le cadre des soins directement dispensés aux pensionnaires infectés. Aucune reconnaissance en tant que maladie professionnelle ne peut avoir lieu pour ceux dont l’activité n’est pas axée sur l’accompagnement et le soin de personnes infectées, p. ex. les vendeurs, la police, ou encore le personnel de nettoyage des hôtels.

Diese Frage kann sich aktuell in jedem Betrieb stellen: Was ist zu tun, wenn ein Mitarbeiter oder eine Mitarbeiterin sich mit dem Corona-Virus infiziert hat oder der begründete Verdacht auf eine Infektion besteht. Eine neue Broschüre von Berufsgenossenschaften und Unfallkassen nennt die richtigen Ansprechpartner und gibt Hinweise, wie auch in dieser Situation Sicherheit und Gesundheit im Unternehmen bestmöglich gewahrt werden können. 

Die Berufsgenossenschaft für Handel und Warenlogistik hat ihre  speziellen Sicherheitshinweise für die Handels- und Warenlogistikbranche nun auch in Englisch und Türkisch veröffentlicht.

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The German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the Trade and Logistics industry provides their special safety notices for the trade and goods logistics industries now also in an English and a Turkisch version.

The international occupational safety and health comunity has developped a set of guides, actions and sources of information to formulate COVID-19 responses for the workplace. Here are the links to their websites:

International Labour Office (ILO)

International Organisation of Employers (IOE)

International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)

agenciadeempleocolsubsidio.com (27.03.2020) El Subsidio de emergencia es un beneficio que se otorga a partir del decreto 488 de 27 de marzo de 2020. Como una medida de orden laboral, dentro del Estado de Emergencia, Económica, Social y Ecológica.

¿Quiénes pueden acceder a este subsidio?

• Trabajadores dependientes e independientes cesantes con una escala salarial desde 1 hasta 4 s.m.l.v. (desde $877.803 hasta $3.511.212)
• Que haya realizado aportes a una caja de compensación durante un (1) año continuo o discontinuo, en el transcurso de los últimos 5 años.
• Personas que no tengan empleo cesantes. Sin ningún tipo de ingreso, pensión o renta mensual y no estar afiliado como cotizante a una EPS.
• Solo los que hayan cotizado en Colsubsidio durante su último trabajo.
• Los cesantes que a partir del 17 de marzo de 2020 hayan realizado su postulación al subsidio de emergencia según el decreto 488 del 2020.

On 29 February, the number of new COVID-19 cases for the day surged to 909 in Korea. 4 weeks later, on March 30, the number of new cases dropped to 78. “South Korea took rapid, intrusive measures against COVID-19 and they worked” (The Guardian, March 20). 

The Report  on “Tackling COVID-19: Health, Quarantine and Economic Measures of South Korea” shares Koreas succesful experiences in controling the spread of COVID-19 and covers a wide range of social security measures, including, but not limited to: 

• economic incentives
• health care
• prevention 

to control the outbreak of COVID-19.

The report was prepared by the Development Finance Bureau at the Ministry of Economy and Finance in collaboration with the Korea Center for Diseases Control and the Ministry of Health and Welfare. 

The  Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre (ICNARC)  provides information about the quality of health care to those who commission, manage, deliver and experience critical care through national clinical audits and  clinical and health services research studies. IN a recently published ICNARC report on 2249 critically ill COVID-19 patients it was wound that: 

1. The average age of patients with confirmed COVID-19 is 60.1 years of age, compared to 58.1 for patients with viral pneumonia (non-COVID-19).
2. As of 4 April 2020, critical care unit outcomes have been received for 690 patients, of whom 346 patients have died and 344 were discharged alive from critical care in the UK (50.1% fatality rate) in comparison to 22.4% of patients with viral pneumonia (non-COVID-19) in critical care have passed away.
3. People who are 70 or older are the most vulnerable with only 82 (31.9%) who survived COVID-19 in critical care, but there are  COVID-19 patients in critical care of all ages (142 patients amongst the 50-69 year olds who died and 29 fatalities amongst the 16-49 years olds).
4. 73% of  critically ill patients with confirmed COVID-19 are male.

During this unprecedented time the world and India are facing due to the Coronavirus outbreak, it has been the endeavour of Indo-German Focal Point (IGFP) to rise to the ocassion in supporting the important role of the State in investing in prevention, by addressing issues such as the vulnerability of migrant construction workers, the promotion of awareness programmes on prevention and the rescue of stranded workers. The Thinktank of the Govt of India (Niti Aayog) has apprised the activities of IGFP  on the Prevention of  the spreading of COVID-19. 

Furthermore, 

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a 22,200 million Indian Rupees (INR) support package for the welfare of economically weaker sections of society in Odisha to deal with the coronavirus related impact.

The measures include : 

• 4 months advance pension for the 4.8 million beneficiaries under the Odisha Social Security Scheme
• 2.2 million Construction worlers will receive 1500 INR each
• 9.4 million beenficiaries under the FSCW Department will get a financial assistance of 1000 INR each

Download the measures as PDF.

The Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) has been promoting three important Korean occupational safety and health documents  to tacke the Corona outbreak in the Republic of Korea. 

1) KOSHA_COVID19 guide for staff (PDF)

2) KOSHA_COVID19 guideline for workplaces (PDF)

3) Self inspection checklist (PDF)

The WHO provides latest updates, including figues of Corona infections on a dedicated COVID-19 News website. The Website is updated on a regular basis and also includes the latest WHO briefings. 

In addition, the WHO information network provides relevant information on a dedicated website for epidemics.

If you have been in contact with the virus, you may need to self-isolate at home. It’s natural for people to feel a range of emotions in this situation, such as stress, worry, anxiety, boredom or low mood. You may find the following tips helpful to cope and maintain your emotional wellbeing:​

Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Key things that we know help include:

• Set up a daily routine. Plan activities that are fun (such as reading, watching movies, hobbies) and that give you a sense of achievement (such as cleaning, completing work tasks, learning a new skill).
• Keep active – create an exercise routine which can be completed within the home, to maintain physical fitness and reduce stress
• Eat well – plan ahead and eat a variety of nutritious meals.
• Stay connected with friends and family via phone, email and video conferencing

Download the full document about the 10 Psychological Tips for Coping with Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Worldwide almost 2.4 million people die due to an occupational disease, compared to 0.38 million that die because of a work accident. Insurance covering occupational diseases is an important pillar of social security and a safety net to all workers who may be exposed to chemical, physical or biological agents arising from work activities, or may suffer from respiratory and skin diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders or occupational cancer. In view of the rapid spread of the Coronavirus, countries are now facing the urgent question of assessing COVID-19 as an occupational disease. In order to ensure insurance coverage, in particular for workers in the most exposed sectors, rapid measures to facilitate the recognition of COVID-19 have been implemented in a number of countries.

IOSH has put together a COVID-19 webpage with advice, guidance and resources for the occupational safety and health community. It includes 

• Preventative measure
• Emergency planning advice
• Managing your workers
• Travelling for work

as well as a list of useful ressources.

This list provides resources from the United State’s OSH agencies charged specifically with OSH issues: the National Institute for Occupational Safety (NIOSH) and Health and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The resources include links to information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (NIOSH’s parent agency) and U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) (OSHA’s parent agency).

The NIOSH links provide specific information on PPE and also resources and guidance for emergency response situations.  CDC links provide a more general overview of workplace precautions to lower risk as well as a map tracking global outbreak status, cases, and latest updates. The OSHA/DOL links provide specific guidance for key at risk industries. The Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19  PDF provides specific guidance on classifying worker exposure and protection measures as well as addressing workers on international assignment. The OSHA links provides other materials available in PDF for printing and distribution. Several of these are provided in Spanish. There are also links to OSHA’s respiratory safety video and eTool.

lefigaro.fr (02.04.2020)

Les soignants atteints par le Coronavirus auront droit à la prise en charge à 100% au titre de la maladie professionnelle.