Retail workers, along with those providing health care, are among the most likely to be able to successfully claim workers' compensation if they contract COVID-19, according to insurance industry representatives.
Workers in essential services that have to deal with the public on a daily basis, including retail employees, could claim under occupational disease provisions of the Missouri workers' compensation statute.
More generally, the industry is expecting a drop in claims because of the number of laid off or furloughed workers.
Separately, Gov. Mike Parson Tuesday issued an executive order making it easier for first responders - police officers, firefighters and paramedics - to make workers' compensation claims.
The new rule presumes any first responder sickened by COVID-19 contracted the virus during official duties. It may have been difficult to definitively prove otherwise.
"Our law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMTs are tireless public servants who compromise their own safety to ensure the safety of others. They risk themselves each and every day," Gov. Parson said.
"It is a job most people don't want to do, but others expect them to do it," said Parson. "Our first responders risk themselves every day, especially, right now."
The number of claims overall, however, is likely to decrease, according to Brent Butler, government affairs director with the Missouri Insurance Coalition.
But those workers in certain sectors, such as retail and health care, may be able to claim if they contract the coronavirus, according to Butler.
The industry believes that the Paycheck Protection Program, part of the CARES Act enacted by Congress in response to the pandemic-related economic downturn, should also help to keep down claims in the longer term.
The PPP provides small businesses of less than 500 employees with funds to pay up to eight weeks of payroll costs so that workers stay employed.
"If it happens that new people are hired, there does tend to be more accidents, in that they are not familiar with equipment and therefore more likely to hurt themselves at work," Butler said.
But the federal package should allow a lot of companies to keep experienced workers on the payroll who will be ready to go back to work immediately, said the insurance industry representative, who added that this will reduce the potential for accidents at work.