Gary Turco

In the early days of the pandemic, personal protective equipment was in short supply and many workplaces did not have the current systems and protections in place to minimize transmission of coronavirus and keep workers safe, causing them to become sick. If workers did file for workers' compensation many were denied.

On Friday, in an effort to make workers who became ill whole, Governor Lamont signed Executive Order No. 7JJJ to create a rebuttable presumption that workers who contracted COVID-19 in the early days of the pandemic contracted it on the job and are eligible for workers' compensation benefits.

The order applies to workers who missed a day or more of work between March 10, 2020 and May 20, 2020 due to a COVID-19 diagnosis or symptoms diagnosed as COVID-19. Read the full executive order here.

Thank you to Governor Lamont for listening to constituents and state leaders on this issue and acting to provide relief. 

Since the "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order was signed, essential workers like health care professionals, grocery store workers, first responders, drivers, child care workers, and so many more have played a vital role in our day-to-day lives.

They risked their health and their family's health to serve us, and we owe them a huge debt. While this is a good first step, I hope we can build upon this to improve the process for workers.