Considerations and Principles for Shielding People at High Risk of Severe Outcomes from COVID-19

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This brief considers the rationale for shielding individuals at high risk of severe disease or death from COVID-19 in low and middle-income countries.

It provides an overview of proposed approaches to shielding, discusses the categories of individuals who may be identified for shielding, and outlines the likely difficulties of these measures and ways to mitigate them. It is noted that the authors are not aware of any precedent for targeted shielding of specific groups in low- and middle-income countries during this or any other outbreak. As such, shielding as an approach is untested.

The authors attempt to provide considerations regarding the feasibility and challenges of this approach, particularly in low- and middle-income settings. Decisions on shielding, they write, will need to pay particular attention to the local socio-economic context, be made in collaboration with local actors, and be continually adapted in light of emerging evidence about the approach’s effectiveness, the characteristics of the COVID-19 and the trajectories of the outbreaks.

Source: Considerations and Principles for Shielding People at High Risk of Severe Outcomes from COVID-19

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    Including people with disabilities in responses to the COVID-19 pandemic

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    This document provides practical guidance for development partners to develop disability-inclusive responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations are provided across nine key areas: intersectionality; assessing gaps and needs; engaging people with disabilities and DPOs; accessible and inclusive communications; healthcare and essential services; livelihoods and social protection; education; independent living and housing; and evidence generation. The recommendations are drawn from key resources, detailed at the end of this document, and guidance developed by Sightsavers’ technical teams.

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      Early Estimates of the Indirect Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Maternal and Child Mortality in Low-income and Middle-income Countries: A Modelling Study

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      While the COVID-19 pandemic will increase mortality due to the virus, it is also likely to increase mortality indirectly. In this study, the authors estimate the additional maternal and under-5 child deaths resulting from the potential disruption of health systems and decreased access to food.

      The results of the study show that if routine health care is disrupted and access to food is decreased (as a result of unavoidable shocks, health system collapse, or intentional choices made in responding to the pandemic), the increase in child and maternal deaths will be devastating. The authors hope these numbers add context as policy makers establish guidelines and allocate resources in the days and months to come.

      Source: Early Estimates of the Indirect Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Maternal and Child Mortality in Low-income and Middle-income Countries: A Modelling Study

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        Technical Note on COVID-19 and Harmful Practices

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        COVID-19 has upended the lives of children and families across the globe and is impacting efforts to end child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM). Actions taken to contain the spread of the pandemic – such as school closures and movement restrictions – are disrupting children’s routines and their support systems.

        Hundreds of millions of children and adolescents will likely face increasing threats to their safety and well-being, including gender-based violence (GBV), exploitation, abuse and neglect, social exclusion, and/or separation from caregivers and friends. We know from the Ebola outbreaks and from other public health crises that adolescent girls are disproportionally affected by these emergencies. Efforts to stop the Ebola epidemics led to school closures and a loss of education; a decrease in access to reproductive health information and services; a loss of livelihoods and a contraction of social support networks. These undermine strategies to end FGM and child marriage, and threaten the progress that has been made over the past decade.

        This technical note offers a list of effects of COVID-19 on adolescenets as well as program interventions at the national and community level.

        Source: Technical Note on COVID-19 and Harmful Practices

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          Infant and Young Child Feeding Recommendations When COVID-19 is Suspected or Confirmed

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          Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) counselling in the context of COVID-19 remains a critical nutrition intervention for the protection and support of pregnant women, caregivers, and their young children. WHO and UNICEF advise caregivers and families with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 to continue the recommended IYCF practices with the necessary hygiene precautions. It is therefore vital to ensure that communities and families around the world adopt these recommendations to help prevent the spread of the virus and care for those who are infected.

          UNICEF and USAID Advancing Nutrition, with the support of the Infant Feeding in Emergencies (IFE) Core Group represented by Save the Children and Safely Fed Canada, have developed a counselling package, Infant and Young Child Feeding Recommendations when COVID-19 is Suspected or Confirmed. The set includes 10 Counselling Cards and a Recommended Practices Booklet. These materials reflect the global recommendations from WHO and UNICEF (March 2020) on IYCF in the context of COVID-19 and may be periodically updated to reflect new or emerging evidence. The package provides both easy-to-understand recommended practices for counselors and user-friendly graphics that can be used with low-literacy communities in different contexts.

          Source: Infant and Young Child Feeding Recommendations When COVID-19 is Suspected or Confirmed

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            Guidance Note 3: How Can VAW Prevention Programs Adapt? : Series on Preventing VAW During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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            The COVID-19 crisis is a destabilizing time, deepening social inequalities and increasing violence against women (VAW). This is also a moment of significant unpredictability and many are experiencing fear, anxiety, and anger as a normal response to these rapid changes. Certain groups are more vulnerable to pandemic-related hardships and consequences, including women, LGBTIQ people, people living with chronic illnesses and other disabilities, people reliant on daily wages,among others. Further, within the COVID-19 response, women providing essential services—from health care provision to cleaning to vendors in the market—are particularly impacted and at risk of violence. These vulnerabilities compromise our collective well-being, as individuals, organizations, and movements to prevent VAW. We recognize –and insist—on the importance of caring for ourselves and each other during COVID-19 as a political act that is integral to our social justice activism, resisting the patriarchal norms and other systemic oppressions that value certain people over others.

            Source: Guidance Note 3: How Can VAW Prevention Programs Adapt? : Series on Preventing VAW During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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              Guidance Note 4: How Can VAW Prevention Programs Adapt? : Series on Preventing VAW During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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              COVID-19 poses many safety risks for staff, organizational partners, and community members working to prevent violence against women. For many settings, it is likely that community mobilization activities will need to be suspended or substantially adapted during this time. Before continuing with any programming, it is essential to comprehensively assess potential risks in order to determine safety and feasibility.

              Source: Guidance Note 4: How Can VAW Prevention Programs Adapt? : Series on Preventing VAW During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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                COVID-19: How to Protect Yourself and Stop the Spread of the Virus Video

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                Using plain language and informative images, this short, animated video about COVID-19 is intended for non-English-speaking audiences with limited or no literacy and highlights the main symptoms of the disease, prevention tips, and steps to take if the viewer feels sick. It is available in 15 languages (Amharic, Arabic, Burmese, Dari, English, Farsi, French, Kinyarwanda, Nepali, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Tigrinya, and Ukrainian).

                Source: COVID-19: How to Protect Yourself and Stop the Spread of the Virus Video

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                  Developing Key Messages for Communities on GBV and COVID-19

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                  This document is meant as a starting point for the field colleagues to support them in ensuring communication to communities around COVID-19 includes gender-based violence (GBV).

                  Source: Developing Key Messages for Communities on GBV and COVID-19

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                    Toolkit to Spread Awareness and Take Action on COVID-19

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                    Inspired by the actions of young people across the world UNICEF has compiled a set of actions that anyone can take to join the fight against misinformation and stigma, and to promote community support and spirit, divided by the time it will take one to get involved, so anyone can decide how he or she can best contribute.

                    Source: Toolkit to Spread Awareness and Take Action on COVID-19

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