As telecommuting became common after the pandemic, the number of residents working even if they were infected with COVID-19 increased.
In particular, it is pointed out that high-ranking officials such as Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institutes of Health and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, are encouraging this environment by saying that they will work from home even if they are infected.
Reporter Lee Chae-won reports.
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This is a time when telecommuting is becoming common due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a Pew Research Center survey, as of January of this year, 60% of workers in workplaces with a telecommuting environment worked most of their time from home.
This is a 2.5-fold increase compared to pre-COVID-19.
As such, given the situation where they can work from home, many workers are working through e-mail work and Zoom meetings even when they are infected with COVID-19.
High-ranking officials, including infectious disease authority Anthony Fauci National Allergy, Director of the Institute of Infectious Diseases, and Federal Transport Minister Pete Buttigieg, will also work from home after testing positive for COVID-19.
This spring, a survey of thousands of people found that two-thirds of those who reported being ill, including COVID-19, said they had to work while they were sick.
However, medical experts pointed out that working without adequate rest when infected with COVID-19 can worsen health.
It is pointed out that work-related stress can be prolonged as it interferes with the immune system.
Mount Sinai Health Systems director David Putrino said the announcements by senior officials that they would continue working from home instilled a sense among residents that they could easily survive the virus.
Director David emphasized that the message we need to deliver to residents is rest, not telecommuting.
There is a strong link between sleep and immunity, says Susan Cheng, a cardiologist and researcher at the Smit Heart Institute at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.
Dr. Cheng emphasized that people are forgetting that COVID-19 is different from a cold, and that rest is especially important when you are infected with COVID-19.
Dr. Caitlyn McCauley, a family medicine specialist, recommends taking a break from work for at least three to five days.
This is Chaewon Lee from Radio Korea News.