Sixty percent of educational staff with lung covid became infected at work
More than 60 percent of the reporters to the long covid hotline of the AOb got infected at work. Another 20 percent suspect it. It is written in the Black Book that the AOb presents today.
Statue: AOb
“I am 100 percent sure that I got infected at school. Because a student sneezed full in my face and that student was positive shortly afterwards - the first in my area. And immediately afterwards I got corona myself. And: 'We were with three teachers on a reading morning in kindergarten. One toddler was coughing a lot and a few days later all three of us had corona. Then you know.'
Those are two of the reactions that came in at the long covid reporting point of the AOb† So far, just over 1200 teachers and support staff have reported there, and 60 percent of them are certain to have been infected at school. Another 20 percent of the reporters strongly suspect it, according to the report Black book long covid given by AOb presents today. The AOb will also hold a tonight, Thursday 7 April webinar about this subject.
Cotton wool in my head, dead tired, I can't come up with words and I can't stand stimuli. How am I ever going to go back to class?
Long-term covid has a range of serious consequences, according to the reports. The most commonly mentioned are decreased concentration, less energy, forgetfulness, headache, shortness of breath and palpitations. 'I am often told that I forget things, while I never had this problem before. I also have trouble keeping an overview, which you really need as a teacher.'
Depression
'I experience complaints such as fatigue and forgetfulness on a daily basis and I now take medication for feelings of depression', says another reporter. 'I'm always tired, even after a good night's sleep,' says a fellow reporter. Another: Cotton wool in my head, exhausted, I can't get the words and I can't stand stimuli. How am I ever going to get back in class again?'. 'There are so many incentives at school: I think reintegration into education is difficult. I'm really worried about this.'
It is striking that many young people also suffer from lung covid: 30 percent of the reporters are younger than 40
More than half of the reporters are between 41 and 60 years old. But it is striking that relatively young people also suffer from long-term covid: 30 percent of the reporters are between 26 and 40 years old. Just over 83 percent of the reporters are teachers, followed by supporters and managers.
Many staff members suffering from long-term covid feel that they have been thrown to the lions during the epidemic. “At first it was said that children would not be able to transmit the virus to adults. When it turned out that this was not correct, it was too late for me.'
It feels very unfair to get infected because you have worked to keep education running
But even later in the epidemic, the safety of the staff was not properly taken care of, according to many reporters. “We were more or less forced to go to work, as long as we kept a meter and a half away. But that is practically impossible in primary education.' And: 'There is still insufficient ventilation at my school', 'The mouth cap obligation was not enforced, despite my requests', 'Keeping a distance from my toddlers was really impossible', 'I have asked for a permanent room so that I am not between students. had to wriggle through, but I didn't get that'.
I was told today that I have been declared XNUMX% incapacitated for work. That is very sad
'It is a shame and shameful that we were not listened to at the time,' says one of the reporters. 'It feels very unfair to get infected at work because you have worked hard to keep education running. And now I'm also in danger of ending up in the wia.'
For those who became ill at the beginning of the epidemic and contracted lung covid, the WIA inspection is now in sight. Some have already done that. 'I was told today that I will be declared XNUMX percent incapacitated for work. That is very sad – but strangely enough it also gives me peace.'
Stress
The reporters indicate that the entire procedure in the second year of illness is very taxing. 'The whole UWV procedure gives me enormous stress.' In that procedure, those involved have to look for a job in another sector – the so-called 'second track'. 'That takes a lot of energy, while I'm still fully convalescing.' And: 'I now have to investigate whether a job outside of education would be something for me. While I just need all my energy to try to get back to my old job at school. Because that's where my heart lies.'
Scientists
In addition, says another, it is actually too early to determine whether you are incapacitated for work with lung covid. 'Doctors and scientists are still looking for the right treatment for lung covid, nobody knows exactly what the best approach is. How can an occupational health doctor or an expert from the UWV assess whether I am incapacitated for work?'
Give people with long-term covid a third year of illness, to reintegrate without the sword of Damocles of the WIA assessment over their heads
Indeed, there is still too much unclear to be able to decide now who is or is not incapacitated for work AOb-chairman Tamar van Gelder. "That is why we appeal to all education employers in the Netherlands: give people with long-term covid a third year of illness," she says in the newspaper. AOb-black book. “An extra year to reintegrate, without having to face the sword of Damocles from the wia inspection. A year to get better, to pick up life again and get back to work meaningfully.”
Goodwill
Initiating such a third year of illness is not difficult. The law offers the possibility to postpone the WIA application in joint consultation between employer and employee. Van Gelder: “The space is already there: it mainly requires goodwill.”
And money, because employers have to pay people for another year. "There's a solution for that too." Van Gelder: “Employers in the healthcare sector are already being compensated for keeping their people with long-term covid employed longer. We believe that a similar arrangement should be introduced for education.”
Compensation Fund
Furthermore, people with long-term covid should also be eligible for an allowance fund. Van Gelder: “An allowance shows recognition for the fact that teaching staff have been at the forefront of keeping society open. In retrospect, it appears that teachers and support staff were exposed to considerable occupational risks. Also because the calls that the AOb has done in the corona period to improve the safety of education staff, such as priority in vaccinations, have been ignored.”
Volunteer abroad
And some teachers and support staff will probably suffer the consequences for life. “I got infected at work, but it didn't just cost me my job. I have also had to give up my sport and my volunteer work at the community center, my family suffers the consequences of my illness every day. My life has changed forever.”
Register at the reporting point or for it webinar from Thursday evening 7 April
