Public Health

Publications

• Long COVID as a Disability Under Civil Rights Laws (7/14/2023) – The explanation of how Long COVID can qualify as a disability under various federal civil rights laws.
• Long COVID: What It Is & What You Need to Know (6/16/2023)– In this blog we discuss the origins of long COVID and its definition.
• End of the Public Health Emergency & Information on Long COVID (6/2/2023)– an overview of the White House statement released on the end of the PHE.
• The End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) (5/11/2023) – COVID-19 updates on the end of the PHE and resources.
• COVID-19 & Vaccine Information & Resources (12/21/2021)– Information and resources about COVID-19 and the vaccine for people with disabilities.
• Investigations of Safety in Jails and Juvenile Detention Centers During COVID-19 (2/21/2021)-Information about DRT’s work investigating conditions for Tennesseans with disabilities in jails and juvenile detention centers during COVID-19.
• Know Your Rights: Education Rights During COVID-19 Distance Learning (1/4/2021) – Guidance for navigating education rights during the school year with COVID-19.
• DRT Expands Services in Response to COVID-19 (6/29/2020)– How COVID-19 has affected our country, and how those affects have been disproportionate for people with disabilities.
• TN COVID Treatment Rationing Plan Triggers Disability Discrimination Complaint (3/28/2020)– Disability discrimination complaint filed over COVID-19 treatment rationing plan in Tennessee.
• Arm Up Tennessee Association for Home Care – Tennessee Association for Home Care’s providers are vaccinating homebound individuals living in Tennessee.

Helpful Links

Information

• CDC resources on Long COVID – Long COVID is a wide range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems that people experience after being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. The CDC has provided resources for you.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Guidance on “Long COVID” as a Disability Under the ADA, Section 504, and Section 1557 – The rise of long COVID as a persistent and significant health issue, the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice have joined together to provide this guidance on Long COVID as a disability.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Fact Sheet: End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency – Fact Sheet with an update on current flexibilities enabled by the COVID-19 emergency declaration and how they will be impacted by the end of the COVID-19 PHE on May 11, 2023.
• CDC Guide on What You Need to Know at the End of the Public Health Emergency – A guide on how reporting frequency and source data for some metrics from CDC has shifted since the PHE declaration ended.
• Resources About Long COVID | WECANDOTHIS.HHS.GOV – Communications materials for organizations and individuals who want to inform their communities about Long COVID and how vaccination can reduce the chance of getting it.
• What are the Implications of Long COVID for Employment and Health Coverage? | KFF – Reviews what we know about Long COVID and outlines key questions to watch for regarding employment and coverage outcomes.
• FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Makes Progress in the Whole-of-Government Response to Long COVID | HHS.gov – Fact Sheet outlining the progress made in the last year in responding to Long COVID and actions moving forward.
• National Research Action Plan (covid.gov)  – This National Research Action Plan on Long COVID was prepared by the Department of Health and Human Services and outlines federal services and mechanisms of support available to the American public in addressing the longer-term effects of COVID-19.
• Government Job Assistance – Resource for people experiencing Long COVID who may need accommodations in the workplace or assistance with finding a new job.
• You’ve Got This campaign to vaccinate older adults and people with disabilities. Launched by the USAging-led Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative