Objective To describe adaptations in the provision of rehabilitation services proposed by scientific and professional rehabilitation organizations to avoid interruptions to patients’ rehabilitation process and delays in starting rehabilitation in patients with COVID-19. Methods A narrative review approach was used to identify the recommendations of scientific and professional organizations in the area of rehabilitation. A systematic search was performed in the main data bases in 78 international and regional web portals of rehabilitation organizations. A total of 21 publications from these organizations were identified and selected. Results The results are presented in 4 categories: adequacy of inpatient services, including acute care services and intensive care unit for patients with and without COVID-19; adequacy of outpatient services, including home-based rehabilitation and tele- rehabilitation; recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19; and regulatory standards and positions during the COVID-19 pandemic expressed by organizations for protecting the rights of health workers and patients. Conclusion Health systems around the world are rapidly learning from actions aimed at the reorganization of rehabilitation services for patients who are in the process of recovery from acute or chronic conditions, and the rapid response to the rehabilitation of survivors of COVID-19, as well as from efforts in the prevention of contagion of those providing the services. LAY ABSTRACT In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which developed very rapidly worldwide, rehabilitation services were forced to modify and adapt the way they provide and deliver services. These measures were proposed and adopted across a wide range of countries, the changes proposed included the following measures: critical patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection should be cared for by a multidisciplinary team providing early mobilization, respiratory, outpatient, and long-term care rehabilitation interventions. Home- based and community rehabilitation can be delivered through different strategies, such as telerehabilitation or direct care. The use of measures to prevent and protect against transmission of COVID-19 are necessary for all patients in rehabilitation care.

Background and ObjectivesDuring the Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, isolation and prevention measures to reduce COVID-19 contagions are essential for the care of all people; these measures should comply with the principles of inclusion and accessibility for people with disabilities (PWD), with all kinds of deficiencies and levels of dependency. Thereby, the aim of this article is to present the measures adopted for PWD or people with rehabilitation needs, for containment, mitigation, or suppression of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in different countries of all continents and of all income levels.MethodsA narrative approach was used in this article. First, a broad search was carried out in the 193 member states of the UN, and then 98 countries that issued any document, report, or information related to disability and COVID-19 were selected. Finally, 32 countries were included in this article because they presented official information. We considered official sources, the information available in the government, or on the health ministry page of the country. In this way, the countries that presented information which did not correspond to an official source were excluded. The search was conducted in August 2020 and updated in March 2021.ResultsFirst, the non-pharmacological general interventions for PWD included informative measures and general recommendations during the stay at home, isolation, and biosecurity measures, contagion prevention, detection of positive cases, mobilization measures, and measures implemented in institutions or residences of PWD. Second, we identified the economic and social benefits provided to PWD during the pandemic. Finally, we identified the measures taken by countries according to the type of impairment (visual, hearing, physical, mental, and cardiopulmonary impairment) during the COVID-19 pandemic.ConclusionIn response to the COVID-19 pandemic, only 50% of countries from the five world regions created and implemented specific measures for PWD to containment, mitigation, or suppression of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. There is very little specific information available about the measures to continue with the care of people with rehabilitation needs and the long-term follow-up of PWD, and for the prevention and response to violence, especially for women with disabilities.

Factors that influence the provision of home-based rehabilitation services for people needing rehabilitation: a qualitative evidence synthesis.

La pandemia por Coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) ha profundizado las desigualdades preexistentes de las personas con discapacidad. Los afectados por Covid-19 se encuentran entre los grupos más vulnerables al ser uno de los grupos más excluidos de la sociedad. El objetivo del presente estudio esidentificarlas declaracionesyrecomendaciones que las organizacionessupranacionales han emitido para garantizar los derechos de las personas con discapacidad en la actual pandemia. Se realizó una búsqueda amplia y sistemática; fueron consultadas 20 organizaciones y analizados 58 documentos en esta síntesis rápida. Los documentos encontrados fueron asignados en cuatro categorías dependiendo de su enfoque principal: principio de igualdad y no discriminación (25,8%), derecho al respeto de la dignidad inherente (10,3%), derecho a la accesibilidad (36,2%) y derecho a la salud (27,6%). Las organizaciones supranacionales hacen un llamado a los gobiernos a garantizar la protección y promoción de los derechos de las personas con discapacidad y a implementar medidas y estrategias razonables que aborden las necesidades especiales de esta población en la actual pandemia.