Today’s issue of WorkCompRecap features the TDI-DWC’s recent release of what it has designated as the last update to its report providing information on the impact of COVID-19 on the state’s workers’ compensation system.
The DWC noted that its COVID-19 data call will not be extended because of the low number of new claims, and that it anticipates that current trends will remain consistent moving forward. Key findings included that as of April 30, carriers have reported nearly 100,000 COVID-19 claims and 472 fatalities to the DWC, with a little over half of claims (51%) and fatalities (55%) involving first responders and correctional officers. More than 2/3 of all COVID-19 claims (72%) involved injured employees who tested positive or were diagnosed with COVID-19. Notably when it came to claims with post-COVID conditions, nearly a quarter of claims (23%) that received professional or hospital/facility services received those services beyond one month post-injury.