Committee urges minister to extend payment scheme for healthcare workers with long covid

Many of the 159 workers became sick during the so-called ‘meaningful Christmas’ in December 2020, when many pandemic-era social restrictions were briefly relaxed, leading to a massive spike in infections

The  healthcare workers also argue that long covid be treated as an occupational hazard for their profession, as it is in several other European countries. File photo: Alamy/PA

A payment scheme for healthcare workers suffering from long covid should be extended for six months, the Dáil has heard.

Some 159 workers nationwide have received the Special Leave with Pay scheme since contracting long covid, with many first becoming sick during the so-called ‘meaningful Christmas’ in December 2020, when many pandemic-era social restrictions were briefly relaxed, leading to a massive spike in infections.