Inquiry finds Omicron response put disabled people at risk

Thursday, 21 April 2022

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The aspirations and needs of disabled people and their whānau in New Zealand have not been given prominence in government policy and decision-making throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, a Human Rights Commission inquiry has found.

And responses to the spread of Omicron caused considerable stress and confusion, and put the wellbeing of disabled people at risk, the report, released on Thursday, stated.

Disability Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero said some groups reported reduced levels of trust and engagement for disabled people during the Omicron phase.

Tesoriero launched the inquiry on March 11 into the support of disabled people during the Omicron outbreak using the commission's powers under the Human Rights Act 1993.

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Disability Commissioner Paula Tesoriero.

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She said the move from alert levels to the Covid-19 Protection Framework saw a decline in public health measures.

“I was concerned about whether disabled people’s rights were being upheld,” said Tesoriero.

'In combination with the emergence of the Omicron variant and widespread community transmission, risks to disabled people, tāngata whaikaha Māori and their whānau have increased.

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'Mitigations were needed in relation to the greater risk for many disabled people and tāngata whaikaha Māori of getting Covid-19 as well as issues such as risks to disruptions in services, access to essential services and needing information tailored to their needs.'

Tesoriero added that the inquiry was told about some good experiences such as great support from Māori and Pacific organisations, and the support and information disabled people provided to each other, 'but mostly experiences were stressful'.

She said many of the submissions had shared experiences of their frustrated attempts to be heard during the earlier stages of the Covid-19 response.

Some organisations talked of being involved in disability advisory groups, Tesoriero said, but this did not guarantee that the views and concerns of disabled people and their whānau were listened to or acted upon.

Submissions also emphasised the worry and stress that came with the shift from alert levels, to the traffic light system.

Many of the issues disabled people identified in the first two years of the Covid-19 response had worsened, the inquiry found, while at the same time Covid-19 restrictions and the protections they offered disabled people and their whānau, and communities, have lessened.

Tesoriero said the purpose of the inquiry was not to comment on the Government’s move away from the elimination strategy, but to highlight the importance of putting appropriate mitigations in place to address those increased risks for disabled people.

“Most importantly, their voices must be central to the ongoing response to Covid-19,” she said.

Submissions also called for a need for stronger commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi by government agencies, in a way that creates conditions for tāngata whaikaha Māori and their whānau to express mana motuhake, and to ensure that government services and funding meet their aspirations and needs.

Tesoriero said the Government has responded positively and with urgency to some issues raised during the Inquiry.

This must be sustained and pivot the way governments respond to the needs of disabled people now and in the future, she added.

Key recommendations

Among the key recommendations to Government were immediate action, working in partnership with disabled people in all planning to:

Improve information about Covid-19 and Omicron, and make it easily accessible for people with varying abilities;
Make it easier for people with disabilities to access masks, rapid antigen tests, a support worker if the usual worker is sick, more help if someone has to isolate at home if they are sick;
Set up a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week service to help people get support if their usual support person is not able to come to work; and,
Provide more flexible options including how to get the right support for learning if they are staying away from school.