{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/65.2-402.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/65.2-402.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/65.2-402.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/65.2-402.1.html"}],"law_id":85102,"edition_id":1,"section_id":85102,"structure_id":15578,"section_number":"65.2-402.1","catch_line":"Presumption as to death or disability from infectious disease","history":"2002, c. 820; 2003, c. 842; 2007, cc. 87, 365; 2009, c. 417; 2011, c. 211; 2012, c. 776; 2015, cc. 38, 502, 503, 730; 2020, cc. 958, 1150, 1152; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 507, 526, 547; 2022, c. 644; 2023, c. 183.","full_text":"A\n\nHepatitis, meningococcal meningitis, tuberculosis or HIV causing the death of, or any health condition or impairment resulting in total or partial disability of, any (i) salaried or volunteer firefighter, or salaried or volunteer emergency medical services personnel; (ii) member of the State Police Officers’ Retirement System; (iii) member of county, city, or town police departments; (iv) sheriff or deputy sheriff; (v) Department of Emergency Management hazardous materials officer; (vi) city sergeant or deputy city sergeant of the City of Richmond; (vii) Virginia Marine Police officer; (viii) conservation police officer who is a full-time sworn member of the enforcement division of the Department of Wildlife Resources; (ix) Capitol Police officer; (x) special agent of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority appointed under the provisions of Chapter 1 (§ 4.1-100 et seq.) of Title 4.1; (xi) for such period that the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority voluntarily subjects itself to the provisions of this chapter as provided in § 65.2-305, officer of the police force established and maintained by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority; (xii) officer of the police force established and maintained by the Norfolk Airport Authority; (xiii) conservation officer of the Department of Conservation and Recreation commissioned pursuant to § 10.1-115; (xiv) sworn officer of the police force established and maintained by the Virginia Port Authority; (xv) campus police officer appointed under Article 3 (§ 23.1-809 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 23.1 and employed by any public institution of higher education; (xvi) correctional officer as defined in § 53.1-1; or (xvii) full-time sworn member of the enforcement division of the Department of Motor Vehicles who has a documented occupational exposure to blood or body fluids shall be presumed to be occupational diseases, suffered in the line of government duty, that are covered by this title unless such presumption is overcome by a preponderance of competent evidence to the contrary. For purposes of this subsection, an occupational exposure occurring on or after July 1, 2002, shall be deemed “documented” if the person covered under this subsection gave notice, written or otherwise, of the occupational exposure to his employer, and an occupational exposure occurring prior to July 1, 2002, shall be deemed “documented” without regard to whether the person gave notice, written or otherwise, of the occupational exposure to his employer. For any correctional officer as defined in § 53.1-1 or full-time sworn member of the enforcement division of the Department of Motor Vehicles, the presumption shall not apply if such individual was diagnosed with hepatitis, meningococcal meningitis, or HIV before July 1, 2020.B\n\n1. COVID-19 causing the death of, or any health condition or impairment resulting in total or partial disability of, any health care provider, as defined in \u00a7 8.01-581.1, who as part of the provider’s employment is directly involved in diagnosing or treating persons known or suspected to have COVID-19, shall be presumed to be an occupational disease that is covered by this title unless such presumptions are overcome by a preponderance of competent evidence to the contrary. For the purposes of this section, the COVID-19 virus shall be established by a positive diagnostic test for COVID-19 and signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that require medical treatment, as described in subdivision F 2.2\n\nCOVID-19 causing the death of, or any health condition or impairment resulting in total or partial disability of, any (i) firefighter, as defined in § 65.2-102; (ii) law-enforcement officer, as defined in § 9.1-101; (iii) correctional officer, as defined in § 53.1-1; or (iv) regional jail officer shall be presumed to be an occupational disease, suffered in the line of duty, as applicable, that is covered by this title unless such presumption is overcome by a preponderance of competent evidence to the contrary. For the purposes of this section, the COVID-19 virus shall be established by a positive diagnostic test for COVID-19, an incubation period consistent with COVID-19, and signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that require medical treatment.C\n\nAs used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Blood or body fluids” means blood and body fluids containing visible blood and other body fluids to which universal precautions for prevention of occupational transmission of blood-borne pathogens, as established by the Centers for Disease Control, apply. For purposes of potential transmission of hepatitis, meningococcal meningitis, tuberculosis, or HIV the term “blood or body fluids” includes respiratory, salivary, and sinus fluids, including droplets, sputum, saliva, mucous, and any other fluid through which infectious airborne or blood-borne organisms can be transmitted between persons.\n\t\t\t“Hepatitis” means hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis non-A, hepatitis non-B, hepatitis C, or any other strain of hepatitis generally recognized by the medical community.\n\t\t\t“HIV” means the medically recognized retrovirus known as human immunodeficiency virus, type I or type II, causing immunodeficiency syndrome.\n\t\t\t“Occupational exposure,” in the case of hepatitis, meningococcal meningitis, tuberculosis or HIV, means an exposure that occurs during the performance of job duties that places a covered employee at risk of infection.D\n\nPersons covered under this section who test positive for exposure to the enumerated occupational diseases, but have not yet incurred the requisite total or partial disability, shall otherwise be entitled to make a claim for medical benefits pursuant to § 65.2-603, including entitlement to an annual medical examination to measure the progress of the condition, if any, and any other medical treatment, prophylactic or otherwise.E\n\n1. Whenever any standard, medically-recognized vaccine or other form of immunization or prophylaxis exists for the prevention of a communicable disease for which a presumption is established under this section, if medically indicated by the given circumstances pursuant to immunization policies established by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the United States Public Health Service, a person subject to the provisions of this section may be required by such person’s employer to undergo the immunization or prophylaxis unless the person’s physician determines in writing that the immunization or prophylaxis would pose a significant risk to the person’s health. Absent such written declaration, failure or refusal by a person subject to the provisions of this section to undergo such immunization or prophylaxis shall disqualify the person from any presumption established by this section.2\n\nThe presumptions described in subdivision B 1 shall not apply to any person offered by such person’s employer a vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 with an Emergency Use Authorization issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, unless the person is immunized or the person’s physician determines in writing that the immunization would pose a significant risk to the person’s health. Absent such written declaration, failure or refusal by a person subject to the provisions of this section to undergo such immunization shall disqualify the person from the presumptions described in subdivision B 1.F\n\n1. The presumptions described in subsection A shall only apply if persons entitled to invoke them have, if requested by the appointing authority or governing body employing them, undergone preemployment physical examinations that (i) were conducted prior to the making of any claims under this title that rely on such presumptions; (ii) were performed by physicians whose qualifications are as prescribed by the appointing authority or governing body employing such persons; (iii) included such appropriate laboratory and other diagnostic studies as the appointing authorities or governing bodies may have prescribed; and (iv) found such persons free of hepatitis, meningococcal meningitis, tuberculosis or HIV at the time of such examinations. The presumptions described in subsection A shall not be effective until six months following such examinations, unless such persons entitled to invoke such presumption can demonstrate a documented exposure during the six-month period.2\n\nThe presumptions described in subdivision B 1 shall apply to any person entitled to invoke them for any death or disability occurring on or after March 12, 2020, caused by infection from the COVID-19 virus, provided that for any such death or disability that occurred on or after March 12, 2020, and prior to December 31, 2022, and;\n\t\t\t\ta. Prior to July 1, 2020, the claimant received a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 from a licensed physician, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a physician assistant after either (i) a presumptive positive test or a laboratory-confirmed test for COVID-19 and presenting with signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that required medical treatment, or (ii) presenting with signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that required medical treatment absent a presumptive positive test or a laboratory-confirmed test for COVID-19; or\n\t\t\t\tb. On or after July 1, 2020, and prior to December 31, 2022, the claimant received a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 from a licensed physician, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a physician assistant after a presumptive positive test or a laboratory-confirmed test for COVID-19 and presented with signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that required medical treatment.3\n\nThe presumptions described in subdivision B 2 shall apply to any person entitled to invoke them for any death or disability occurring on or after July 1, 2020, caused by infection from the COVID-19 virus, provided that for any such death or disability that occurred on or after July 1, 2020, and prior to December 31, 2021, the claimant received a diagnosis of COVID-19 from a licensed physician, after either a presumptive positive test or a laboratory confirmed test for COVID-19, and presented with signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that required medical treatment.G\n\nPersons making claims under this title who rely on such presumption shall, upon the request of appointing authorities or governing bodies employing such persons, submit to physical examinations (i) conducted by physicians selected by such appointing authorities or governing bodies or their representatives and (ii) consisting of such tests and studies as may reasonably be required by such physicians. However, a qualified physician, selected and compensated by the claimant, may, at the election of such claimant, be present at such examination.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":304986,"text":"Hepatitis, meningococcal meningitis, tuberculosis or HIV causing the death of, or any health condition or impairment resulting in total or partial disability of, any (i) salaried or volunteer firefighter, or salaried or volunteer emergency medical services personnel; (ii) member of the State Police Officers’ Retirement System; (iii) member of county, city, or town police departments; (iv) sheriff or deputy sheriff; (v) Department of Emergency Management hazardous materials officer; (vi) city sergeant or deputy city sergeant of the City of Richmond; (vii) Virginia Marine Police officer; (viii) conservation police officer who is a full-time sworn member of the enforcement division of the Department of Wildlife Resources; (ix) Capitol Police officer; (x) special agent of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority appointed under the provisions of Chapter 1 (§ 4.1-100 et seq.) of Title 4.1; (xi) for such period that the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority voluntarily subjects itself to the provisions of this chapter as provided in § 65.2-305, officer of the police force established and maintained by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority; (xii) officer of the police force established and maintained by the Norfolk Airport Authority; (xiii) conservation officer of the Department of Conservation and Recreation commissioned pursuant to § 10.1-115; (xiv) sworn officer of the police force established and maintained by the Virginia Port Authority; (xv) campus police officer appointed under Article 3 (§ 23.1-809 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 23.1 and employed by any public institution of higher education; (xvi) correctional officer as defined in § 53.1-1; or (xvii) full-time sworn member of the enforcement division of the Department of Motor Vehicles who has a documented occupational exposure to blood or body fluids shall be presumed to be occupational diseases, suffered in the line of government duty, that are covered by this title unless such presumption is overcome by a preponderance of competent evidence to the contrary. For purposes of this subsection, an occupational exposure occurring on or after July 1, 2002, shall be deemed “documented” if the person covered under this subsection gave notice, written or otherwise, of the occupational exposure to his employer, and an occupational exposure occurring prior to July 1, 2002, shall be deemed “documented” without regard to whether the person gave notice, written or otherwise, of the occupational exposure to his employer. For any correctional officer as defined in § 53.1-1 or full-time sworn member of the enforcement division of the Department of Motor Vehicles, the presumption shall not apply if such individual was diagnosed with hepatitis, meningococcal meningitis, or HIV before July 1, 2020.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":304987,"text":"1. COVID-19 causing the death of, or any health condition or impairment resulting in total or partial disability of, any health care provider, as defined in \u00a7 8.01-581.1, who as part of the provider’s employment is directly involved in diagnosing or treating persons known or suspected to have COVID-19, shall be presumed to be an occupational disease that is covered by this title unless such presumptions are overcome by a preponderance of competent evidence to the contrary. For the purposes of this section, the COVID-19 virus shall be established by a positive diagnostic test for COVID-19 and signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that require medical treatment, as described in subdivision F 2.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B2"},"2":{"id":304988,"text":"COVID-19 causing the death of, or any health condition or impairment resulting in total or partial disability of, any (i) firefighter, as defined in § 65.2-102; (ii) law-enforcement officer, as defined in § 9.1-101; (iii) correctional officer, as defined in § 53.1-1; or (iv) regional jail officer shall be presumed to be an occupational disease, suffered in the line of duty, as applicable, that is covered by this title unless such presumption is overcome by a preponderance of competent evidence to the contrary. For the purposes of this section, the COVID-19 virus shall be established by a positive diagnostic test for COVID-19, an incubation period consistent with COVID-19, and signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that require medical treatment.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"C"},"3":{"id":304989,"text":"As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Blood or body fluids” means blood and body fluids containing visible blood and other body fluids to which universal precautions for prevention of occupational transmission of blood-borne pathogens, as established by the Centers for Disease Control, apply. For purposes of potential transmission of hepatitis, meningococcal meningitis, tuberculosis, or HIV the term “blood or body fluids” includes respiratory, salivary, and sinus fluids, including droplets, sputum, saliva, mucous, and any other fluid through which infectious airborne or blood-borne organisms can be transmitted between persons.\n\t\t\t“Hepatitis” means hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis non-A, hepatitis non-B, hepatitis C, or any other strain of hepatitis generally recognized by the medical community.\n\t\t\t“HIV” means the medically recognized retrovirus known as human immunodeficiency virus, type I or type II, causing immunodeficiency syndrome.\n\t\t\t“Occupational exposure,” in the case of hepatitis, meningococcal meningitis, tuberculosis or HIV, means an exposure that occurs during the performance of job duties that places a covered employee at risk of infection.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"D"},"4":{"id":304990,"text":"Persons covered under this section who test positive for exposure to the enumerated occupational diseases, but have not yet incurred the requisite total or partial disability, shall otherwise be entitled to make a claim for medical benefits pursuant to § 65.2-603, including entitlement to an annual medical examination to measure the progress of the condition, if any, and any other medical treatment, prophylactic or otherwise.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"5":{"id":304991,"text":"1. Whenever any standard, medically-recognized vaccine or other form of immunization or prophylaxis exists for the prevention of a communicable disease for which a presumption is established under this section, if medically indicated by the given circumstances pursuant to immunization policies established by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the United States Public Health Service, a person subject to the provisions of this section may be required by such person’s employer to undergo the immunization or prophylaxis unless the person’s physician determines in writing that the immunization or prophylaxis would pose a significant risk to the person’s health. Absent such written declaration, failure or refusal by a person subject to the provisions of this section to undergo such immunization or prophylaxis shall disqualify the person from any presumption established by this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"E2"},"6":{"id":304992,"text":"The presumptions described in subdivision B 1 shall not apply to any person offered by such person’s employer a vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 with an Emergency Use Authorization issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, unless the person is immunized or the person’s physician determines in writing that the immunization would pose a significant risk to the person’s health. Absent such written declaration, failure or refusal by a person subject to the provisions of this section to undergo such immunization shall disqualify the person from the presumptions described in subdivision B 1.","type":"section","prefixes":["E","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"E2","prefix_anchor":"E2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"F"},"7":{"id":304993,"text":"1. The presumptions described in subsection A shall only apply if persons entitled to invoke them have, if requested by the appointing authority or governing body employing them, undergone preemployment physical examinations that (i) were conducted prior to the making of any claims under this title that rely on such presumptions; (ii) were performed by physicians whose qualifications are as prescribed by the appointing authority or governing body employing such persons; (iii) included such appropriate laboratory and other diagnostic studies as the appointing authorities or governing bodies may have prescribed; and (iv) found such persons free of hepatitis, meningococcal meningitis, tuberculosis or HIV at the time of such examinations. The presumptions described in subsection A shall not be effective until six months following such examinations, unless such persons entitled to invoke such presumption can demonstrate a documented exposure during the six-month period.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E2","next_prefix":"F2"},"8":{"id":304994,"text":"The presumptions described in subdivision B 1 shall apply to any person entitled to invoke them for any death or disability occurring on or after March 12, 2020, caused by infection from the COVID-19 virus, provided that for any such death or disability that occurred on or after March 12, 2020, and prior to December 31, 2022, and;\n\t\t\t\ta. Prior to July 1, 2020, the claimant received a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 from a licensed physician, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a physician assistant after either (i) a presumptive positive test or a laboratory-confirmed test for COVID-19 and presenting with signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that required medical treatment, or (ii) presenting with signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that required medical treatment absent a presumptive positive test or a laboratory-confirmed test for COVID-19; or\n\t\t\t\tb. On or after July 1, 2020, and prior to December 31, 2022, the claimant received a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 from a licensed physician, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a physician assistant after a presumptive positive test or a laboratory-confirmed test for COVID-19 and presented with signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that required medical treatment.","type":"section","prefixes":["F","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"F2","prefix_anchor":"F2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"F","next_prefix":"F3"},"9":{"id":304995,"text":"The presumptions described in subdivision B 2 shall apply to any person entitled to invoke them for any death or disability occurring on or after July 1, 2020, caused by infection from the COVID-19 virus, provided that for any such death or disability that occurred on or after July 1, 2020, and prior to December 31, 2021, the claimant received a diagnosis of COVID-19 from a licensed physician, after either a presumptive positive test or a laboratory confirmed test for COVID-19, and presented with signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that required medical treatment.","type":"section","prefixes":["F","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"F3","prefix_anchor":"F3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"F2","next_prefix":"G"},"10":{"id":304996,"text":"Persons making claims under this title who rely on such presumption shall, upon the request of appointing authorities or governing bodies employing such persons, submit to physical examinations (i) conducted by physicians selected by such appointing authorities or governing bodies or their representatives and (ii) consisting of such tests and studies as may reasonably be required by such physicians. However, a qualified physician, selected and compensated by the claimant, may, at the election of such claimant, be present at such examination.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F3"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15578,"edition_id":1,"name":"Occupational Diseases","identifier":"4","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13199,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:56:30","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:56:30","permalink":{"id":276355,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15578,"identifier":"4","token":"65.2\/4","url":"\/65.2\/4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13199,"edition_id":1,"name":"Workers' Compensation","identifier":"65.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:26","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:26","permalink":{"id":276115,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13199,"identifier":"65.2","token":"65.2","url":"\/65.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":77071,"structure_id":15578,"section_number":"65.2-400","catch_line":"\"Occupational disease\" defined","url":"\/65.2-400\/","token":"65.2\/4\/65.2-400","metadata":false},{"id":81629,"structure_id":15578,"section_number":"65.2-401","catch_line":"\"Ordinary disease of life\" coverage","url":"\/65.2-401\/","token":"65.2\/4\/65.2-401","metadata":false},{"id":59437,"structure_id":15578,"section_number":"65.2-402","catch_line":"Presumption as to death or disability from respiratory disease, hypertension or heart disease, cancer","url":"\/65.2-402\/","token":"65.2\/4\/65.2-402","metadata":false},{"id":85102,"structure_id":15578,"section_number":"65.2-402.1","catch_line":"Presumption as to death or disability from infectious disease","url":"\/65.2-402.1\/","token":"65.2\/4\/65.2-402.1","metadata":false},{"id":70626,"structure_id":15578,"section_number":"65.2-403","catch_line":"Provisions in respect to injury by accident, etc., applicable to occupational disease","url":"\/65.2-403\/","token":"65.2\/4\/65.2-403","metadata":false},{"id":79901,"structure_id":15578,"section_number":"65.2-404","catch_line":"What employer and carrier liability","url":"\/65.2-404\/","token":"65.2\/4\/65.2-404","metadata":false},{"id":81595,"structure_id":15578,"section_number":"65.2-405","catch_line":"Notice to be given","url":"\/65.2-405\/","token":"65.2\/4\/65.2-405","metadata":false},{"id":76142,"structure_id":15578,"section_number":"65.2-406","catch_line":"Limitation upon claim; diseases covered by limitation","url":"\/65.2-406\/","token":"65.2\/4\/65.2-406","metadata":false},{"id":67647,"structure_id":15578,"section_number":"65.2-407","catch_line":"Waiver","url":"\/65.2-407\/","token":"65.2\/4\/65.2-407","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":59437,"structure_id":15578,"section_number":"65.2-402","catch_line":"Presumption as to death or disability from respiratory disease, hypertension or heart disease, cancer","url":"\/65.2-402\/","token":"65.2\/4\/65.2-402","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":70626,"structure_id":15578,"section_number":"65.2-403","catch_line":"Provisions in respect to injury by accident, etc., applicable to occupational disease","url":"\/65.2-403\/","token":"65.2\/4\/65.2-403","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/65.2-402.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2002. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 820<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 9 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2003, chapter 842<\/a>; in 2007, chapters 87<\/a> and 365<\/a>; in 2009, chapter 417<\/a>; in 2011, chapter 211<\/a>; in 2012, chapter 776<\/a>; in 2015, chapters 38<\/a>, 502<\/a>, 503<\/a>, and 730<\/a>; in 2020, chapters 958<\/a>, 1150<\/a>, and 1152<\/a>; in 2022, chapter 644<\/a>; in 2023, chapter 183<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":59551,"section_number":"65.2-101","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/65.2-101\/"},{"id":54405,"section_number":"9.1-400","catch_line":"Title of chapter; definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-400\/"},{"id":58699,"section_number":"9.1-403","catch_line":"Claim for payment; costs","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-403\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":62641,"section_number":"10.1-115","catch_line":"Appointment of conservation officers; qualifications; oath","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-115\/"},{"id":60667,"section_number":"23.1-809","catch_line":"Public institutions of higher education; establishment of campus police departments authorized; employment of officers","order_by":null,"url":"\/23.1-809\/"},{"id":55602,"section_number":"4.1-100","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/4.1-100\/"},{"id":85635,"section_number":"53.1-1","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-1\/"},{"id":74882,"section_number":"65.2-102","catch_line":"Coverage of firefighters and law-enforcement officers in off-duty capacity","order_by":null,"url":"\/65.2-102\/"},{"id":77522,"section_number":"65.2-305","catch_line":"Voluntary subjection to provisions of title; effect of taking out insurance or qualifying as self-insurer","order_by":null,"url":"\/65.2-305\/"},{"id":82651,"section_number":"65.2-603","catch_line":"Duty to furnish medical attention, etc., and vocational rehabilitation; effect of refusal of employee to accept","order_by":null,"url":"\/65.2-603\/"},{"id":79489,"section_number":"8.01-581.1","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-581.1\/"},{"id":73488,"section_number":"9.1-101","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-101\/"}],"permalink":{"id":276369,"object_type":"law","relational_id":85102,"identifier":"65.2-402.1","token":"65.2\/4\/65.2-402.1","url":"\/65.2-402.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/65.2-402.1\/","token":"65.2\/4\/65.2-402.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Presumption as to death or disability from infectious disease","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 65.2-402.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Hepatitis<\/span>, meningococcal meningitis, tuberculosis or HIV<\/span> causing the death of, or any health condition or impairment resulting in total or partial disability of, any (i) salaried or volunteer firefighter, or salaried or volunteer emergency medical services personnel; (ii) member of the State Police Officers’ Retirement System; (iii) member of county, city, or town police departments; (iv) sheriff or deputy sheriff; (v) Department of Emergency Management hazardous materials<\/span> officer; (vi) city sergeant or deputy city sergeant of the City of Richmond; (vii) Virginia Marine Police officer; (viii) conservation police officer who is a full-time sworn member of the enforcement division of the Department of Wildlife Resources; (ix) Capitol Police officer; (x) special agent of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority appointed under the provisions of Chapter 1 (§ 4.1-100<\/a> et seq.) of Title 4.1; (xi) for such period that the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority voluntarily subjects itself to the provisions of this chapter as provided in § 65.2-305<\/a>, officer of the police force established and maintained by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority; (xii) officer of the police force established and maintained by the Norfolk Airport Authority; (xiii) conservation officer of the Department of Conservation and Recreation commissioned pursuant to § 10.1-115<\/a>; (xiv) sworn officer of the police force established and maintained by the Virginia Port Authority; (xv) campus police officer appointed under Article 3 (§ 23.1-809<\/a> et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 23.1 and employed by any public institution of higher education; (xvi) correctional officer as defined in § 53.1-1<\/a>; or (xvii) full-time sworn member of the enforcement division of the Department of Motor Vehicles who has a documented occupational exposure to blood or body fluids<\/span> shall be presumed to be occupational diseases, suffered in the line of government duty, that are covered by this title unless such presumption<\/span> is overcome by a preponderance of competent evidence<\/span> to the contrary. For purposes of this subsection, an occupational exposure occurring on or after July 1, 2002, shall be deemed “documented” if the person covered under this subsection gave notice, written or otherwise, of the occupational exposure to his employer<\/span>, and an occupational exposure occurring prior to July 1, 2002, shall be deemed “documented” without regard to whether the person gave notice, written or otherwise, of the occupational exposure to his employer<\/span>. For any correctional officer as defined in § 53.1-1<\/a> or full-time sworn member of the enforcement division of the Department of Motor Vehicles, the presumption<\/span> shall not apply if such individual was diagnosed with hepatitis<\/span>, meningococcal meningitis, or HIV<\/span> before July 1, 2020. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> 1. COVID-19 causing the death of, or any health condition or impairment resulting in total or partial disability of, any health care provider, as defined in \u00a7 8.01-581.1<\/a>, who as part of the provider’s employment is directly involved in diagnosing or treating persons known or suspected to have COVID-19, shall be presumed to be an occupational disease that is covered by this title unless such presumptions<\/span> are overcome by a preponderance of competent evidence<\/span> to the contrary. For the purposes of this section, the COVID-19 virus shall be established by a positive diagnostic test for COVID-19 and signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that require medical treatment, as described in subdivision F 2. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> COVID-19 causing the death of, or any health condition or impairment resulting in total or partial disability of, any (i) firefighter, as defined in § 65.2-102<\/a>; (ii) law<\/span>-enforcement officer, as defined in § 9.1-101<\/a>; (iii) correctional officer, as defined in § 53.1-1<\/a>; or (iv) regional jail officer shall be presumed to be an occupational disease, suffered in the line of duty, as applicable, that is covered by this title unless such presumption<\/span> is overcome by a preponderance of competent evidence<\/span> to the contrary. For the purposes of this section, the COVID-19 virus shall be established by a positive diagnostic test for COVID-19, an incubation period consistent with COVID-19, and signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that require medical treatment. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Blood or body fluids<\/span>” means blood and body fluids containing visible blood and other body fluids to which universal precautions for prevention of occupational transmission of blood-borne pathogens, as established by the Centers for Disease Control, apply. For purposes of potential transmission of hepatitis<\/span>, meningococcal meningitis, tuberculosis, or HIV<\/span> the term “blood or body fluids<\/span>” includes respiratory, salivary, and sinus fluids, including droplets, sputum, saliva, mucous, and any other fluid through which infectious airborne or blood-borne organisms can be transmitted between persons.\n\t\t\t“Hepatitis<\/span>” means hepatitis<\/span> A, hepatitis<\/span> B, hepatitis<\/span> non-A, hepatitis<\/span> non-B, hepatitis<\/span> C, or any other strain of hepatitis<\/span> generally recognized by the medical community.\n\t\t\t“HIV<\/span>” means the medically recognized retrovirus known as human immunodeficiency virus, type I or type II, causing immunodeficiency syndrome.\n\t\t\t“Occupational exposure,” in the case of hepatitis<\/span>, meningococcal meningitis, tuberculosis or HIV<\/span>, means an exposure that occurs during the performance of job duties that places a covered employee at risk of infection. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Persons covered under this section who test positive for exposure to the enumerated occupational diseases, but have not yet incurred the requisite total or partial disability, shall otherwise be entitled to make a claim for medical benefits pursuant to § 65.2-603<\/a>, including entitlement to an annual medical examination to measure the progress of the condition, if any, and any other medical treatment, prophylactic or otherwise. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> 1. Whenever any standard, medically-recognized vaccine or other form of immunization or prophylaxis exists for the prevention of a communicable disease for which a presumption<\/span> is established under this section, if medically indicated by the given circumstances pursuant to immunization policies established by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the United States Public Health Service, a person subject to the provisions of this section may be required by such person’s employer<\/span> to undergo the immunization or prophylaxis unless the person’s physician determines in writing that the immunization or prophylaxis would pose a significant risk to the person’s health. Absent such written declaration, failure or refusal by a person subject to the provisions of this section to undergo such immunization or prophylaxis shall disqualify the person from any presumption<\/span> established by this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> The presumptions<\/span> described in subdivision B 1 shall not apply to any person offered by such person’s employer<\/span> a vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 with an Emergency Use Authorization issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, unless the person is immunized or the person’s physician determines in writing that the immunization would pose a significant risk to the person’s health. Absent such written declaration, failure or refusal by a person subject to the provisions of this section to undergo such immunization shall disqualify the person from the presumptions<\/span> described in subdivision B 1. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> 1. The presumptions<\/span> described in subsection A shall only apply if persons entitled to invoke them have, if requested by the appointing authority or governing body employing them, undergone preemployment physical examinations that (i) were conducted prior to the making of any claims under this title that rely on such presumptions<\/span>; (ii) were performed by physicians whose qualifications are as prescribed by the appointing authority or governing body employing such persons; (iii) included such appropriate laboratory and other diagnostic studies as the appointing authorities or governing bodies may have prescribed; and (iv) found such persons free of hepatitis<\/span>, meningococcal meningitis, tuberculosis or HIV<\/span> at the time of such examinations. The presumptions<\/span> described in subsection A shall not be effective until six months following such examinations, unless such persons entitled to invoke such presumption<\/span> can demonstrate a documented exposure during the six-month period. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> The presumptions<\/span> described in subdivision B 1 shall apply to any person entitled to invoke them for any death or disability occurring on or after March 12, 2020, caused by infection from the COVID-19 virus, provided that for any such death or disability that occurred on or after March 12, 2020, and prior to December 31, 2022, and;\n\t\t\t\ta. Prior to July 1, 2020, the claimant received a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 from a licensed physician, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a physician assistant after either (i) a presumptive positive test or a laboratory-confirmed test for COVID-19 and presenting with signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that required medical treatment, or (ii) presenting with signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that required medical treatment absent a presumptive positive test or a laboratory-confirmed test for COVID-19; or\n\t\t\t\tb. On or after July 1, 2020, and prior to December 31, 2022, the claimant received a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 from a licensed physician, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a physician assistant after a presumptive positive test or a laboratory-confirmed test for COVID-19 and presented with signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that required medical treatment. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> The presumptions<\/span> described in subdivision B 2 shall apply to any person entitled to invoke them for any death or disability occurring on or after July 1, 2020, caused by infection from the COVID-19 virus, provided that for any such death or disability that occurred on or after July 1, 2020, and prior to December 31, 2021, the claimant received a diagnosis of COVID-19 from a licensed physician, after either a presumptive positive test or a laboratory confirmed test for COVID-19, and presented with signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that required medical treatment. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> Persons making claims under this title who rely on such presumption<\/span> shall, upon the request of appointing authorities or governing bodies employing such persons, submit to physical examinations (i) conducted by physicians selected by such appointing authorities or governing bodies or their representatives and (ii) consisting of such tests and studies as may reasonably be required by such physicians. However, a qualified physician, selected and compensated by the claimant, may, at the election of such claimant, be present at such examination. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPRESUMPTION AS TO DEATH OR DISABILITY FROM INFECTIOUS DISEASE (\u00a7 65.2-402.1)\n\nA. Hepatitis, meningococcal meningitis, tuberculosis or HIV causing the death\nof, or any health condition or impairment resulting in total or partial\ndisability of, any (i) salaried or volunteer firefighter, or salaried or\nvolunteer emergency medical services personnel; (ii) member of the State Police\nOfficers’ Retirement System; (iii) member of county, city, or town police\ndepartments; (iv) sheriff or deputy sheriff; (v) Department of Emergency\nManagement hazardous materials officer; (vi) city sergeant or deputy city\nsergeant of the City of Richmond; (vii) Virginia Marine Police officer; (viii)\nconservation police officer who is a full-time sworn member of the enforcement\ndivision of the Department of Wildlife Resources; (ix) Capitol Police officer;\n(x) special agent of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority appointed\nunder the provisions of Chapter 1 (§ 4.1-100 et seq.) of Title 4.1; (xi)\nfor such period that the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority voluntarily\nsubjects itself to the provisions of this chapter as provided in §\n65.2-305, officer of the police force established and maintained by the\nMetropolitan Washington Airports Authority; (xii) officer of the police force\nestablished and maintained by the Norfolk Airport Authority; (xiii) conservation\nofficer of the Department of Conservation and Recreation commissioned pursuant\nto § 10.1-115; (xiv) sworn officer of the police force established and\nmaintained by the Virginia Port Authority; (xv) campus police officer appointed\nunder Article 3 (§ 23.1-809 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 23.1 and\nemployed by any public institution of higher education; (xvi) correctional\nofficer as defined in § 53.1-1; or (xvii) full-time sworn member of the\nenforcement division of the Department of Motor Vehicles who has a documented\noccupational exposure to blood or body fluids shall be presumed to be\noccupational diseases, suffered in the line of government duty, that are covered\nby this title unless such presumption is overcome by a preponderance of\ncompetent evidence to the contrary. For purposes of this subsection, an\noccupational exposure occurring on or after July 1, 2002, shall be deemed\n“documented” if the person covered under this subsection gave\nnotice, written or otherwise, of the occupational exposure to his employer, and\nan occupational exposure occurring prior to July 1, 2002, shall be deemed\n“documented” without regard to whether the person gave notice,\nwritten or otherwise, of the occupational exposure to his employer. For any\ncorrectional officer as defined in § 53.1-1 or full-time sworn member of\nthe enforcement division of the Department of Motor Vehicles, the presumption\nshall not apply if such individual was diagnosed with hepatitis, meningococcal\nmeningitis, or HIV before July 1, 2020.\n\nB. 1. COVID-19 causing the death of, or any health condition or impairment\nresulting in total or partial disability of, any health care provider, as\ndefined in \u00a7 8.01-581.1, who as part of the provider’s employment is\ndirectly involved in diagnosing or treating persons known or suspected to have\nCOVID-19, shall be presumed to be an occupational disease that is covered by\nthis title unless such presumptions are overcome by a preponderance of competent\nevidence to the contrary. For the purposes of this section, the COVID-19 virus\nshall be established by a positive diagnostic test for COVID-19 and signs and\nsymptoms of COVID-19 that require medical treatment, as described in subdivision\nF 2.\n\n 2. COVID-19 causing the death of, or any health condition or impairment\n resulting in total or partial disability of, any (i) firefighter, as defined\n in § 65.2-102; (ii) law-enforcement officer, as defined in §\n 9.1-101; (iii) correctional officer, as defined in § 53.1-1; or (iv)\n regional jail officer shall be presumed to be an occupational disease,\n suffered in the line of duty, as applicable, that is covered by this title\n unless such presumption is overcome by a preponderance of competent evidence\n to the contrary. For the purposes of this section, the COVID-19 virus shall be\n established by a positive diagnostic test for COVID-19, an incubation period\n consistent with COVID-19, and signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that require\n medical treatment.\n\nC. As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Blood or body fluids” means blood and body fluids containing\nvisible blood and other body fluids to which universal precautions for\nprevention of occupational transmission of blood-borne pathogens, as established\nby the Centers for Disease Control, apply. For purposes of potential\ntransmission of hepatitis, meningococcal meningitis, tuberculosis, or HIV the\nterm “blood or body fluids” includes respiratory, salivary, and\nsinus fluids, including droplets, sputum, saliva, mucous, and any other fluid\nthrough which infectious airborne or blood-borne organisms can be transmitted\nbetween persons.\n\t\t\t“Hepatitis” means hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis non-A,\nhepatitis non-B, hepatitis C, or any other strain of hepatitis generally\nrecognized by the medical community.\n\t\t\t“HIV” means the medically recognized retrovirus known as human\nimmunodeficiency virus, type I or type II, causing immunodeficiency syndrome.\n\t\t\t“Occupational exposure,” in the case of hepatitis, meningococcal\nmeningitis, tuberculosis or HIV, means an exposure that occurs during the\nperformance of job duties that places a covered employee at risk of infection.\n\nD. Persons covered under this section who test positive for exposure to the\nenumerated occupational diseases, but have not yet incurred the requisite total\nor partial disability, shall otherwise be entitled to make a claim for medical\nbenefits pursuant to § 65.2-603, including entitlement to an annual medical\nexamination to measure the progress of the condition, if any, and any other\nmedical treatment, prophylactic or otherwise.\n\nE. 1. Whenever any standard, medically-recognized vaccine or other form of\nimmunization or prophylaxis exists for the prevention of a communicable disease\nfor which a presumption is established under this section, if medically\nindicated by the given circumstances pursuant to immunization policies\nestablished by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the United\nStates Public Health Service, a person subject to the provisions of this section\nmay be required by such person’s employer to undergo the immunization or\nprophylaxis unless the person’s physician determines in writing that the\nimmunization or prophylaxis would pose a significant risk to the person’s\nhealth. Absent such written declaration, failure or refusal by a person subject\nto the provisions of this section to undergo such immunization or prophylaxis\nshall disqualify the person from any presumption established by this section.\n\n 2. The presumptions described in subdivision B 1 shall not apply to any person\n offered by such person’s employer a vaccine for the prevention of\n COVID-19 with an Emergency Use Authorization issued by the U.S. Food and Drug\n Administration, unless the person is immunized or the person’s physician\n determines in writing that the immunization would pose a significant risk to\n the person’s health. Absent such written declaration, failure or refusal\n by a person subject to the provisions of this section to undergo such\n immunization shall disqualify the person from the presumptions described in\n subdivision B 1.\n\nF. 1. The presumptions described in subsection A shall only apply if persons\nentitled to invoke them have, if requested by the appointing authority or\ngoverning body employing them, undergone preemployment physical examinations\nthat (i) were conducted prior to the making of any claims under this title that\nrely on such presumptions; (ii) were performed by physicians whose\nqualifications are as prescribed by the appointing authority or governing body\nemploying such persons; (iii) included such appropriate laboratory and other\ndiagnostic studies as the appointing authorities or governing bodies may have\nprescribed; and (iv) found such persons free of hepatitis, meningococcal\nmeningitis, tuberculosis or HIV at the time of such examinations. The\npresumptions described in subsection A shall not be effective until six months\nfollowing such examinations, unless such persons entitled to invoke such\npresumption can demonstrate a documented exposure during the six-month period.\n\n 2. The presumptions described in subdivision B 1 shall apply to any person\n entitled to invoke them for any death or disability occurring on or after\n March 12, 2020, caused by infection from the COVID-19 virus, provided that for\n any such death or disability that occurred on or after March 12, 2020, and\n prior to December 31, 2022, and;\n \t\t\t\ta. Prior to July 1, 2020, the claimant received a positive diagnosis of\n COVID-19 from a licensed physician, an advanced practice registered nurse, or\n a physician assistant after either (i) a presumptive positive test or a\n laboratory-confirmed test for COVID-19 and presenting with signs and symptoms\n of COVID-19 that required medical treatment, or (ii) presenting with signs and\n symptoms of COVID-19 that required medical treatment absent a presumptive\n positive test or a laboratory-confirmed test for COVID-19; or\n \t\t\t\tb. On or after July 1, 2020, and prior to December 31, 2022, the claimant\n received a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 from a licensed physician, an\n advanced practice registered nurse, or a physician assistant after a\n presumptive positive test or a laboratory-confirmed test for COVID-19 and\n presented with signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that required medical treatment.\n\n 3. The presumptions described in subdivision B 2 shall apply to any person\n entitled to invoke them for any death or disability occurring on or after July\n 1, 2020, caused by infection from the COVID-19 virus, provided that for any\n such death or disability that occurred on or after July 1, 2020, and prior to\n December 31, 2021, the claimant received a diagnosis of COVID-19 from a\n licensed physician, after either a presumptive positive test or a laboratory\n confirmed test for COVID-19, and presented with signs and symptoms of COVID-19\n that required medical treatment.\n\nG. Persons making claims under this title who rely on such presumption shall,\nupon the request of appointing authorities or governing bodies employing such\npersons, submit to physical examinations (i) conducted by physicians selected by\nsuch appointing authorities or governing bodies or their representatives and\n(ii) consisting of such tests and studies as may reasonably be required by such\nphysicians. However, a qualified physician, selected and compensated by the\nclaimant, may, at the election of such claimant, be present at such examination.\n\nHISTORY: 2002, c. 820; 2003, c. 842; 2007, cc. 87, 365; 2009, c. 417; 2011, c.\n211; 2012, c. 776; 2015, cc. 38, 502, 503, 730; 2020, cc. 958, 1150, 1152; 2021,\nSp. Sess. I, cc. 507, 526, 547; 2022, c. 644; 2023, c. 183.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}