Protecting people with disabilities from COVID-19

by Tess Herron January 21, 2021

If you are a person with a disability or care for/support or are friends with someone who has a disability, there are things you can do to protect yourself/them from COVID-19, these include:

Stay home and only go outside your home for necessary activities like doctor appointments or getting groceries.
Ask family, a neighbour or friend to help with essential errands (e.g., picking up prescriptions, buying groceries).
When you do go outside the home make sure you practise physical distancing with those who are not in your private circle, as much as possible.
Wash your hands or support hand washing for the person with disabilities. This should be done after touching frequently touched surfaces and prior to meals. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be used instead of water and soap when available.
Make sure you (or those who engage others on your behalf) or your care/support persons do not interact with others who are sick. Ask your direct support/care providers/friends and family, or have others ask on your behalf, if they are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 or if they have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19. For those who are the care/supports or family members, check that you have no symptoms prior to any interaction with the person with a disability. Signs and symptoms of COVID-19 may include:
- Fever (temperature of 38.0°C or greater), or
- Any new or worsening respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, runny nose or sneezing, nasal congestion, hoarse voice, sore throat or difficulty swallowing), or
- Any new onset atypical symptoms including but not limited to chills, muscle aches, diarrhea, fatigue, general feeling of discomfort, or headache
Immediately notify or have others notify your family/care providers/friends if you or the persons you are caring for/supporting becomes ill. If the person with the disability remains within their home environment, please see:
- How to care for someone with COVID-19 at home
Continually look for ways to protect, listen, support, adapt, and accommodate. Everyone's situation is unique and needs to be reviewed and considered on an individual basis.

Protecting people with disabilities from COVID-19

If you are a person with a disability or care for/support or are friends with someone who has a disability, there are things you can do to protect yourself/them from COVID-19, these include:

Stay home and only go outside your home for necessary activities like doctor appointments or getting groceries.

Ask family, a neighbour or friend to help with essential errands (e.g., picking up prescriptions, buying groceries).

When you do go outside the home make sure you practise physical distancing with those who are not in your private circle, as much as possible.

Wash your hands or support hand washing for the person with disabilities. This should be done after touching frequently touched surfaces and prior to meals. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be used instead of water and soap when available.

Fever (temperature of 38.0°C or greater), or

Any new or worsening respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, runny nose or sneezing, nasal congestion, hoarse voice, sore throat or difficulty swallowing), or

Any new onset atypical symptoms including but not limited to chills, muscle aches, diarrhea, fatigue, general feeling of discomfort, or headache

Immediately notify or have others notify your family/care providers/friends if you or the persons you are caring for/supporting becomes ill. If the person with the disability remains within their home environment, please see:

How to care for someone with COVID-19 at home

Continually look for ways to protect, listen, support, adapt, and accommodate. Everyone's situation is unique and needs to be reviewed and considered on an individual basis.

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