Grant employers partial protection from COVID lawsuits

As a part of any financial assistance package, Republican lawmakers seek protection against businesses defending themselves from customer and employee litigation for negligence or other wrongdoing if people in their businesses are stricken with COVID.

Customers who choose to dine and imbibe in bars and restaurants or aggregate in large groups of unmasked visitors are clearly aware of the severity of the worst health affliction since the 1918-19 flu pandemic. The numbers of deaths and overflow conditions of hospitals is reported daily and frequently in the media. Clearly the legal principle of “assumption of risk” should be applied for anyone deciding to socialize or patronize in high-risk gatherings. Unless there is a compelling need to gather, each individual has the choice to accept or decline the risk.

On the other hand, wage earners who risk their well-being to serve customers and generate revenue for proprietors need protection for work-related illness. Every employer should provide government guaranteed health insurance for any virus, respiratory illness or similar work-related illness. There would be no pre-condition or expiration, except the person must have been employed at or about the time stricken.

Seems simple. Customers assume the risk, while workers are fully protected with no wiggle room by business for exceptions.

Sheldon I. Saitlin, Boca Raton