The ‘Kyoto Welfare Shimbun’, a monthly newspaper published for fifty years that highlihted issues concerning people with disabilities printed its last edition in March.
Hokkaido and Sapporo City announced on May 22nd that 6 people were confirmed as infected with the new coronavirus in Hokkaido. One person was confirmed at a facility for persons with disabilities and a medical institution where a cluster had previously been found. A new infection was confirmed by a male employee in his thirties who works at “Kouyoen”, a facility for the disabled in Engaru-cho, where 11 infected persons in total.
In the city of Ise in Mie Prefecture, western Japan, the local government has started delivering 25 non-woven fabric masks each to pregnant women in the city, and from May 20 it also started supplying masks to 75 disability welfare services centers, with between 50 and 300 delivered depending on the size of the facilities.
In Kanagawa prefecture, where the declaration of emergency situation continues, it was found that the number of welfare services for persons with disabilities that are closed due to the spread of infection has doubled in the past month. On the other hand, although it has been closed for a while, the burden on the parties and family is increasing, and there is a movement to resume such services.
Japanese para athletes with visual impairments or severe disabilities have struggled to train due to the closure of facilities and the need to practice social distancing due to the new coronavirus pandemic.
In order to prevent the so-called “corona depression,” which is understood as depression brought on by the prolonged need to ‘stay home’ associated with the new coronavirus, a meeting was held online for people with disabilities to talk about their worries.
Regarding a welfare facility for persons with disabilities in, Chiba Prefecture, where a mass infection occurred with approximately 120 new coronavirus cases found, the Prefectural government confirmed on the May 14 that recent COVID-19 tests, including those who were receiving treatment within the facility, came back negative.
The spread of the new coronavirus affects people with disabilities who are more likely to feel anxiety about unexpected daily changes. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has called for the continued operation of facilities for the disabled as “necessary to maintain their lives,” but the facility has great conflicts regarding the prevention of infection. 99 out of the 2,600 outpatient facilities in Hyogo prefecture are closed, and users are facing a disruption in their rhythm of life and a large decrease in their income.
It is a one-time therapy for the genetic disorder, which causes motor neuron loss and muscle wasting, and its coverage by insurance will offer hope for patients of the disease and their families.
The death last month of Kumiko Okae, 63, following a battle with breast cancer, has fueled anxiety after her office released a statement saying her COVID-19 symptoms may have become serious due to radiation therapy affecting her immune system.
Barrier Free Japan