COVID-19 in South Africa: An occupational disease

摘要

To the Editor: We note the response by Chirico and Magnavita[1] to our letter to the Editor,[2] in which we stated that under certain circumstances COVID-19 should be regarded as an occupational disease. These authors pointed out that in Italy, COVID-19 potentially acquired through workplace exposure is recognised by the Italian National Institute of Insurance Against Accidents at Work as a ‘biological injury’. This recognition is based on the argument that SARS-CoV-2 infection is an occupational injury, because it ‘happens suddenly at a specific time, usually within the work shift (24 hours)’, and that COVID-19 is a disease resulting from a SARSCoV-2 infection.[1] We support the view that COVID-19 is a disease resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection, as declared by the World Health Organization.[3] It follows, therefore, that if COVID-19 results from exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in the workplace, it can be considered an occupational disease.