'Workers infected with COVID-19 three times more'

* Photo: Juraj Varga / Pixabay

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Turkish Medical Association (TTB) Pandemic Working Group member Dr. Arif Müezzinoğlu was the guest of this week's "What We are Curious About During the Pandemic" program of the Working Group.

Emphasizing that COVID-19 has become the top issue about workers' health, Müezzinoğlu has indicated that the ones working in the production and service sector are more subjected to the effects of the pandemic.

He has underlined that "millions of employees had to go to work everyday for one and a half years without changing anything about their lives." He has noted, "In this period, the number of occupational homicides has increased by 30 percent due to COVID-19 and when compared to other segments of the society, workers have got infected with the virus three times more."

Müezzinoğlu has raised concerns that under these conditions, COVID-19 has turned into a working class disease.

He has added that the failure to scientifically use methods of diagnosis and treatment on employees, the failure to recognize COVID-19 as an occupational disease and the dismissal of workers with the "Code-29" despite the lay-off ban exacerbated the situation.

'Ventilation in closed spaces now more important'

Dr. Müezzinoğlu has once again emphasized the importance of getting vaccinated, keeping physical distance and wearing face masks for workers during the pandemic, which is poorly managed in Turkey.

Noting that workers can check their workplaces by preparing checklists, he has said, "With these lists, a worker must be able to discern whether the related place is protected against COVID-19 or not."

Concluding his remarks, he has touched upon the need to use masks, keep one's distance and hygiene. He has stressed that ventilation in closed spaces is now more important, underlining that a COVID-infected worker must undergo a medical examination before returning to work.

'It must be recognized as an occupational disease'

Müezzinoğlu has shared the following findings and recommendations:

• What has happened during the pandemic has shown that COVID-19 is a working class disease. The fact that the lives of workers go on as before, including during lockdowns, has caused us to see the effects of this disease more among the working class.
• In addition to face masks, distance and cleaning, we need to give priority to the ventilation of closed spaces as well.
• Certain checklists must be prepared to be protected from transmission of the disease and workers must have the opportunity to inspect their workplaces by using these lists.
• The workers who got sick but have recovered from the disease must definitely undergo a medical examination before returning to work.
• COVID-19 must be recognized as an occupational disease and legal processes must be initiated in that regard.

(AS/SD)