COVID 19 – CORONA VIRUS
State of Florida employees that have tested positive for COVID-19 are eligible
for workers’ compensation benefits if they are employed by the State
in particular jobs.
On March 1, 2020 Florida’s Chief financial Officer published a directive
granting workers’ compensation coverage for COVID claims for Frontline
Employees defined as:
- Law Enforcement Officers or police;
- Firefighters;
- Emergency Medical Technicians or paramedics;
- Correction Officers working in a state operated detention facilities;
- Healthcare workers employed by the state;
- Child Safety Investigators whose duties include welfare checks; and
- Florida National Guard members.
Any person employed by the State in one of these capacities, and who contracts
COVID-19, is eligible for lost wage benefits, medical care and death benefits
under Florida Workers’ Compensation law. No proof of contracting
COVID-19 while in the course of your employment is required.
Simply put, if you are employed in one of these jobs and you test positive
for COVID-19, you are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
It doesn’t matter if you believe you contracted COVID-19 elsewhere,
your claim will be covered.
Under the Florida workers’ compensation system, your medical bills
and prescription drugs will be covered in full by the Division of Risk
Management. Lost time from work, whether from illness or isolation, will
be paid at 66.6% of your average weekly wage. Should you have any permanent
impairment as a result of your COVID exposure, you will be eligible for
impairment benefits as outlined in Florida Statute 440.15. If death results
from COVID-19 exposure, your spouse and children are potentially eligible
for death benefits under Florida Statute 440.16.
If you require help obtaining coverage for you claim, or have questions,
please contact the firm of Harris & Riviere, by phone at (813) 229-2667 or
by email.