Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on people living with visual disability.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on people living with visual disability.
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DOI：
10.4103/ijo.ijo_1513_20
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发表时间：
2020-07
影响因子：
3.1
通讯作者：
Senjam SS
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Senjam SS
视力残疾/受损的人比没有视力障碍的人更容易感染严重急性呼吸系统综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV 2）。这意味着全球将有超过2.53亿人面临更高的受COVID-19影响的风险。当前的大流行，以及随后为减缓病毒前所未有的传播而在全国范围内实施的紧急封锁，将对视力残疾人产生严重影响，从长远来看甚至危及他们的生命。政府建议的许多限制和控制措施，包括采取新的行为改变（例如户外运动时的社交距离，限制触摸或触觉接触），将对视力丧失的个人构成巨大挑战。这种严重影响，包括在获得医疗保健方面的挑战，可以通过包容性服务办法来最大限度地减少，让视力残疾人、照顾者、家庭成员和医疗保健提供者沿着在很大程度上与社区一起参与，最后是支持改善总体结果。政府，沿着营利或非营利私营部门，应考虑在规划对这一流行病的反应时，采取这种包容性的办法。事实上，目前的COVID-19大流行为印度各地不同组织的卫生保健规划者和决策者提供了改革残疾人护理的机会。倘于未来发生任何紧急情况前制定规划及政策，则可大幅减少疫情及封城所造成的影响。
People living with visual disabilities/impairment are more likely vulnerable to get contracted from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV 2) than people without visual impairment. This means more than 253 million people globally will be at higher risk of affecting by the COVID-19. The current pandemic, followed by a nationwide emergency lockdown to slow the unprecedented spread of the virus, will have a serious impact on people living with visual disabilities and even endangers their lives in the long run. Many restrictive and control measures, including the adoption of new behavioural changes (for example, social distance during outdoor movement, limiting touch or tactile contact) recommended by the government will pose immense challenges to individuals with a visual loss. This serious impact, including challenges in healthcare access, can be minimized through inclusive service approaches, involving persons with visual disabilities, caregivers, family members, and healthcare providers, along with the community to a large extent, and finally, support to improve the overall outcomes. The government, along with profit or non-profit private sectors, should consider initiating such inclusive approaches while planning responses to the pandemic. Indeed, the present COVID-19 pandemic provides an opportunity for health care planners and decision-makers of various organizations across India for a reformation of disabilities care. Impacts due to the pandemic and lockdown can be reduced substantially if planning and policy are in place before any emergency happened in the future.