Coronavirus no longer high threat to workers - European Commission

Portfolio
The European Commission has on Wednesday classified the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a mid-level threat to workers, a move that allows employers to apply less stringent safety measures in the workplace than if the virus was deemed a high risk, Reuters reported, ading that the decision has immediately drawn criticism from socialist lawmakers. The decision will impact on companies' costs in fully restarting business activity and workers' safety.  
európai uniós zászló európai bizottság

The Commission classified the novel coronavirus as a level-3 hazard on a four-step risk list on which level 4 is the highest.

Under EU rules, a level-3 virus “can cause severe human disease and present a serious hazard to workers; it may present a risk of spreading to the community, but there is usually effective prophylaxis or treatment available”.

Level-4 biological agents pose a “high risk” of infection with no prophylaxis or treatment available.

A spokeswoman for the European Commission said several criteria are used to classify biological hazards and none of them has more weight than others.

“The existence or absence of prophylaxis cannot be considered as a standalone criterion,” the spokeswoman said.

The EU executive said it consulted with scientists from the 27 EU states, and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“We strongly oppose the decision by the Commission to classify COVID-19 only as a mid-level hazard. COVID-19 is the biggest health challenge of our lifetime,” said EU lawmaker Agnes Jongerius, who speaks on employment matters for the socialist grouping, the second largest in the EU Parliament.

She said the decision was not taken in a transparent fashion. “There is no public information available about the consulted experts and their reasoning.”

The Commission’s decision is immediately applicable, but the parliament could block it in a vote expected in June.

Cover photo: Getty Images

 

More in Economy

March 28, 2024 13:31

Wage agreement reached in Hungarian Mercedes plant

Unilaterally, after 15 failed attempts

mnb inflacios jelentes
March 28, 2024 13:15

A weak forint is bad for inflation, according to Hungary's central bank

Inflation Report published

influenza beteg nő
March 28, 2024 11:00

More Hungarians seek medical help with acute respiratory infection

Influenza-like symptoms drop further, though

csecsemő baba születés
March 28, 2024 09:55

Hungarians' willingness to have children diminishes further

Number of live births at record low

hotelszoba - örömködő idősek -  Getty
March 28, 2024 09:40

Tourism getting perkier in Hungary

February data show pleasant growth

dolgozó worker gyár gyári munkás ipar
March 28, 2024 09:20

Gross average wage already over HUF 600,000 in Hungary

Wage growth is extremely fast