Along with the spread of the infection, a number of people who are visually or mentally handicapped are asking for assistance regarding the application for the “special fixed benefit” that pays 100,000 yen to the people. Some people give up attempting to apply because the documents and online procedures are difficult.
Sanda City, Hyogo Prefecture, will expand public support for facilities for the elderly and people with disabilities. “Supporting money” is provided for continuing work while the new coronavirus infection spreads. For residents who cannot meet their family to prevent infection, the city will subsidize the cost of purchasing equipment so that an “online visit” is possible. Local products such as vegetables and meat will also be delivered to the facility.
A man in his 70s who lived alone in a residence in Ome City, Tokyo was found dead on May 3 and subsequent investigations revealed that he was infected with the new coronavirus.
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.
