The Ministry of Employment's new guidance makes it clear that employees who are affected by illness as a result of Covid-19 can have that illness recognised as an occupational injury (either as an occupational disease or a work accident) if it is probable that the affected person was exposed to a specific infection during work or was exposed to infection for a period in connection with his or her work.

In the assessment, it is important to establish whether the employee forms part of the groups of persons who are exposed to severe risk of infection in connection with their daily work, because the work (such as in the health and social care sectors) involves direct contact with patients or other citizens. In addition, the employee's ability to comply with behavioural measures and the use of protective equipment can be taken into consideration.

However, the guidelines also describe how, by reference to a specific incident, it can be rendered probable that the employee was infected in connection with his or her work, such as a situation where a pizza delivery person delivers pizza to a Covid-19 infected person in quarantine and is coughed at or sneezed in the face, or where a police officer has had close contact with a Covid-19 infected person who vomited.

The guide contains, inter alia, information about:

  • when Covid-19 can be considered an occupational disease;
  • when illness resulting from Covid-19 can be considered as a work accident;
  • what to consider in assessing the right to compensation;
  • reporting obligation for doctors and dentists.
  • reporting obligation for employers

Employer's reporting obligation

The employer must notify the authorities if an employee has become ill with Covid-19 and it is suspected that the employee may have been infected by a specific incident or by brief exposure to infection for up to five days in connection with work. In such situation, there is an obligation to notify the authorities if, at the same time, it is expected that the employee will be entitled to benefits under the Danish Workers' Compensation Act, such as treatment expenses or reimbursement for permanent injury, or if he or she has been fully or partially sick for more than five weeks.

If, on the other hand, the employee has been infected without it being possible to attribute the infection to a specific incident or to a short exposure to infection in connection with work, it will be up to the employee's doctor to assess whether there is a basis for reporting the infection as an occupational disease.

The detailed conditions for recognition as an occupational injury are given in the instructions which can be found here in Danish.

Originally published 14 May, 2020

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.