Covid-19: A pandemic of claims?

Johnathan Payne has been instructed by the insurers of a leading provider of social care in a claim of ‘long-covid’ brought by an ex-employee. The case has been issued in the High Court and proceeds in the Queens Bench Division. The case is of interest in that it will examine the role of employers at a time of a global pandemic. The case will scrutinise the reliance of employers on the guidance provided by the government at the commencement of the pandemic in March and April 2020. On 28th June 2022, the UK government announced the UK Covid-19 Inquiry. It remains to be seen whether the Courts will proceed with such claims pending the findings of the Inquiry considering the scope of the fact finding in the Inquiry.