The coronavirus pandemic has made many people go for work from home option. Working hours has been increased. According to the latest reports by the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization, long working hours resulted in 7,45,000 deaths from stroke and ischemic heart disease in 2016, a 29 percent rise since 2000. This was published in Environment today.

Maria Neira, director of the WHO's Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health said that, "Working 55 hours or more per week is a serious health hazard." She further added that, "What we want to do with this information is to promote more action, more protection of workers."

The study further revealed that the most of victims were men and middle aged or older. The most affected were the people living in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific region - a WHO-defined region which includes China, Japan and Australia.

According to the study, "Working 55 hours or more a week is associated with a 35% higher risk of stroke and a 17% higher risk of dying from ischemic heart disease compared with a 35-40 hour working week." This report was taken during the period of 2000-2016 and it didn't include the COVID-19 period. But, the officials are more worried that due to coronavirus pandemic, most of the people are working from home and estimating that at least 9% of people work long hours. WHO technical officer Frank Pega said that it is a best choice to not to increase long working hours as it would up the worker productivity.