<
https://www.manager-magazin.de/harvard/long-covid-and-the-economy-there-is-money-in-prevention-a-54022db9-428f-41d7-b71c-3f9befa58b0e>
'The report from Jena, Germany, was covered only briefly by the media. No
comment from the business world. But what an interdisciplinary team from Jena
University Hospital found out in a survey involving 40 long Covid patients
should actually make employers break out in a sweat. The researchers discovered
that a SARS-CoV-2 infection substantially diminishes cognitive performance in
those affected. Subjects processed visual information more slowly and felt
exhausted more quickly than a control group of the same size.
"We interpret this as evidence of chronically diminished brain activity in long
Covid, primarily manifesting as slowed information processing," says Kathrin
Finke, the psychological director of Jena's post-Covid outpatient clinic. The
phenomenon, also known as brain fog, is considered a typical symptom of a
coronavirus infection. A meta-analysis of the most common symptoms of post- or
long Covid showed that after an acute infection, an average of 32 percent of
all people suffered from concentration disorders and forgetfulness.
The consequences for employers have not yet been fully researched. However,
there is growing evidence that long Covid’s effects could have a more lasting
impact on the economy than the lockdowns. A virus that slows down cognitive
processes, leading to persistently higher absenteeism and increased
occupational disability, is a concerning prospect for the business world. Very
few companies have publicly taken a clear position on this - not even German
car manufacturer Audi, whose former CEO Markus Duesmann was unable to work for
months in 2021 due to his long Covid illness.
For many leaders, the rounds and rounds of sick leave may seem inevitable. But
what they fail to recognize is that after four years of Covid-19, they possess
the knowledge and resources to safeguard workplaces against the virus. As with
many other strategic decisions, this requires a fundamental directive from the
top.'
Via Violet Blue’s
Pandemic Roundup: December 21, 2023
https://www.patreon.com/posts/pandemic-roundup-95043283
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
