California’s State Compensation Insurance Fund announced on Monday that it will establish two new funds to support the health and recovery of essential workers and workplace safety during the COVID-19 crisis.

The first fund, the Essential Worker Support Fund, is a $25-million relief fund to support State Fund policyholders’ essential workers, as defined by an executive order from Gov. Newsom, who contract COVID-19 or are ordered to self-isolate due to a potential exposure.

The fund will provide assistance with wage replacement up to six weeks and assist workers without health coverage with uncovered medical costs.

For workers who have health coverage, the fund will assist with copayments and deductibles, as well as up to six weeks of wage replacement.

State Fund said it will offer assistance regardless of any potential legal uncertainty about whether the COVID-19 diagnosis arose from the essential worker’s employment and will not impact the worker’s ability to pursue full workers’ comp benefits.

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