Economics
Coronavirus Hits America Where It’s Weakest With Big Health Gaps
- Other rich countries have universal care and paid sick leave
- Workers who don’t are more likely to show up sick, duck tests
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Jennie Gordon runs quality checks on medical implants at one of the largest hospital suppliers in the U.S. It’s meticulous work, and a hygienic environment is crucial. But Gordon says that if she gets sick, she’ll still show up to work.
That’s one way diseases spread. But Gordon feels like she has no choice.
Her employer near Washington allows six paid sick days a year, of which she’s already used half. Gordon has a chronic condition, and takes medications that suppress her immune system -- making her more vulnerable to the coronavirus. But if she exceeds her sick-day limit, she risks getting fired. And then she would lose her work-sponsored health insurance plan, and her ability to get any medical treatment at all.