Teachers and education support staff have the second highest
prevalence rate for suffering from debilitating long COVID, new
data uncovered by NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union
shows.
The figures from the Office for National Statistics show the
prevalence of self-reported long COVID, both in the whole
population and employment sectors.
And they show that the teaching and education employment sector
is second highest with 114,000 people suffering from the
conditions, just behind the sector with the highest number of
sufferers – healthcare workers on 122,000.
The Union is demanding financial compensation for teachers and
education staff who have been left unable to work as a result of
Covid-19.
The NASUWT is also calling for more supportive sickness policies
that recognise the complex and changing nature of long COVID
sysmptoms, which can see teachers going through extended cycles
of illness, leading to periods of intermittent absence over a
long period.
Improved access to ill-health retirement must also be given to
provide financial protection for teachers who are too ill to work
due to the impact of Covid-19.
The NASUWT wants to see a financial compensation scheme for
teachers who have contracted Covid as a result of working in
school.
NASUWT General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach said:
“The high incidence of Long Covid identified by the ONS is deeply
concerning.
“Without periods of school closure in the past year, it is
possible that the number of cases could be much higher.
“The number of teachers who may be affected with Covid-related
long-term illness could be a ticking time-bomb.
“Teachers need to be supported by sickness management policies
that are compassionate and recognise the complex and debilitating
nature of Long Covid.
“Teachers experiencing Long Covid should not be made to live in
fear of losing their jobs or of financial hardship if they are no
longer able to do their jobs.
“The Government should consider regulations that ensure access to
ill-health retirement provision for those with Long Covid.
“Ministers must, as a matter of urgency, provide financial
compensation for all teachers, including supply teachers, where
their careers have been impacted due to Covid-19.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors.
The ONS data, which covers the four-week period ending 6 March,
finds that over a million people are living with long COVID, out
of 4.3 million confirmed positive tests.
Other findings in the data across the population include:
- One-third of long COVID sufferers have had symptoms for more
than 39 weeks;
- 478,000 describe their symptoms as impacting on their ability
to undertake day-to-day activities a little, and 196,000 say it
impacts ‘a lot’
- Roughly two-thirds of Long Covid sufferers are women
- The vast majority (almost 800,000) had no pre-existing health
condition
- Although adults have a far higher prevalence rate, 43,000
children are affected.
