Contagions that affect the respiratory system continue to circulate in the community. This may not be a concern regarding WC claims, but we need to prepare for the estimated 30% of workers will develop complications when they become ill, affecting their ability to work. According to federal government estimates, nearly 1 in 5 adults who have had COVID-19 in the past continue to experience at least one symptom of long COVID for 12 months or more – fatigue, shortness of breath, brain fog, chest pain, and headaches, among others. As of 9/21/23 approximately 103,436,829 cases of COVID were reported in the US. Using the CDC’s estimated 30% complication rate indicates that ~31,031,049 people have or had PCC. Financial experts estimate that for every 15 million working-age Americans (age 18 to 65) with PCC, 4-8 million will be out of work with a lost wages estimated at $170 -$230 billion per year.

View real time updated official statistics and break them down by categories such as age, location, and gender from the National Census Bureau and National Center for Health Statistics.

Sentinel is an early warning, self-check tool that detects changes in respiratory status days before symptoms appear. The first and most important step in maintaining a healthy workforce is the Forced Cough Vocalization app. Learn more here.