We organized this MODERNET COVINAR to share experiences to prevent and detect COVID-19 as an occupational disease. With nine presentations and a group of around 30 interested participants our first webinar can be considered successful. Although it will never be as fruitful as a real-life meeting, we can use it to strengthen our network in these difficult times. Please find already some presentations underneath.

PROGRAM MODERNET COVINAR 15 OCTOBER 2020
12.00 Welcome by MODERNET chair Lode Godderis
COVID-19 IN HEALTH CARE SETTINGS
12.20 Godewina Mylle – Prevalence of sars-cov-2 in Belgian long-term care facilities workers
12.50 Stefan Mandic-Rajcevic – Source and symptoms of COVID-19 among hospital workers in Milan
Break 5 minutes
COVID-19 AS AN OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE
13.10 Raymond Agius – Approaches for the attribution of cases of COVID-19 to occupation
13.25 Ari Kaukiainen – Covid-19 as occupational disease in Finland
13.40 Henk van der Molen – Notifications of Covid-19 as occupational disease in the Netherlands
COVID-19 AND WORKING CONDITIONS
14.10 Elizaveta Stikova – Workplace risk assessment during occupational exposure on SARS cov-2 virus
14.25 Closure by Lode Godderis
Background information
Modernet is a network of experts and scientists with an interest in new and emerging diseases. The coronavirus has led to many infections and deaths in workers and work situations. Not only in healthcare but far beyond. So far, only limited data are available on how work contributes to the spread of the infection, what are the riskiest jobs and conditions, and how we can confirm the work-relatedness of the disease. Hence, besides the so-called essential workers, other employees, such as teachers, hairdressers, retail workers, etc. can contract the virus in their work.
In many countries, COVID-19 has already been recognized as an occupational disease to compensate for the consequences of the infections. However, major differences exist between countries both in the diagnosis as in the criteria for compensation.
In this COVINAR (= Online webinar on COVID-19) we aim to share national experiences on the study of work-related factors of COVID-19, the trends, and recognition as an occupational disease (reporting and compensation schemes). We also have a specific interest in testing (PCR, serological, …) and contact tracing (apps, …) in occupational settings, in occupational intervention and prevention examples, and in the long-term effects of the disease and how to handle those.
Thank you very much for the content presented at MODERNET COVINAR 15 October 2020. These presentations make valuable material that reveals numerous epidemiological and unknowns in the field of occupational etiology and pathology, vulnerable groups of workers at COVID 19, and differences internationally. great support and praise for such MODERNET activities. I, realy enjoy
Best wishes
Nurka Pranjic