COVID-19 And WSIB Claim Costs

Public Health Ontario publishes weekly epidemiological summaries regarding COVID-19 in Ontario. The most recent report, published October 7, 2022, noted a gradual increase in case trends and percent positivity over the past three weeks. Current projections suggest that weekly case numbers may continue to rise over the coming weeks.

Given forecasted increases, here is a reminder of how workplace COVID-19 claims are adjudicated by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) and how costs are treated.

In 2021, costs associated with COVID-19 claims and adverse reactions to vaccines were not allocated at an employer or class level, but on a Schedule-wide basis for both Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 employers. This meant that no incident was shown against the employer's record and there was no impact on premium rates.