Staying safe during the pandemic Throughout changing restrictions and public health measures, disabled people and their whānau have experienced barriers to accessing many of the supports the government has put in place to keep Aotearoa safe during the pandemic. These include accessing vaccinations, masks, COVID-19 testing, and accessible information (for example, about exemptions or alternatives to vaccinations and/or face coverings). Even before the pandemic, disabled people and their whānau were facing inequalities, including in access to health services and inadequate income. Since the pandemic, these existing inequalities have combined with additional barriers to cause further worry and stress for disabled people. The reduction of COVID-19 protections during the Omicron outbreak has made them feel even more unsafe. As a result, many disabled people and their whānau have decided that the safest option is to effectively self-isolate from the wider community to reduce their risks of COVID-19. Support to isolate safely As Omicron has spread, it is likely that greater numbers of disabled people and their whānau have tested positive for the virus and have been required to isolate. While much of the public messaging has encouraged households to prepare for isolation by stocking up on essentials, this requires both financial resources or savings and access to logistical support (such as arranging people to deliver groceries or medications). Expectations that people isolate in their homes also assumes housing is warm and dry and safe, which is not the case for all disabled people and their whānau. Limited access to information has been especially stressful for disabled people and their whānau looking for support during isolation, including home care. Throughout this phase of the Inquiry a number of examples were shared of disabled people ordinarily living with flatmates, or in supported living situations, having to move in with whānau members to isolate just to be confident that their basic care needs would be met. Disrupted disability support services On 8 February 2022, a letter was sent from the Ministry of Health, ACC and all district health boards (DHBs) advising people that, if Omicron cases were to increase, there could be staff shortages and home and community support services may need to scale back temporarily. Many disabled people and their whānau were deeply unsettled by this news as they felt they were left on their own with no means of being able to have their basic needs met. On 1 March 2022 an apology was issued for the “deep distress” caused to disabled people and their whānau, but this was sent only to providers to disseminate. For many disabled people and whānau, the damage had already been done. Significant concerns have arisen about the ability of government agencies to plan for the impacts of Omicron (or any future significant variants of COVID-19) in a way that ensures the rights of disabled people and their whānau are upheld. Homecare support services during Omicron have in fact been disrupted for many disabled people and their whānau. The need for better systemic responses from government agencies such as the Ministry of Health, ACC and DHBs, is shared across many submissions. Submissions also highlighted the ongoing impacts on other disability support services, such as day programmes, caused by COVID-19 restrictions and the resulting impacts that these disruptions have had for disabled people and their whānau. 7