The number of people experiencing disability is being swelled by people with “long covid,” in which symptoms persist after the acute viral infection subsides. 7 They also experienced disproportionate loss of access to medical services, education, employment, and care. 4 5 6 People in the UK people whose disabilities affected their day-to-day function were up to three times more likely to have died from covid-19. 2 3 People with physical and cognitive disabilities-including those with “invisible” disabilities that are not obvious from the outside-were at disproportionate risk of harm from covid-19 because of their pre-existing medical conditions or their social circumstances.

One billion people worldwide live with a disability, 1 but they are often overlooked in discussions of pandemic preparedness and response. Nicholas Evans and colleagues argue that long covid needs to be better recognised, understood, and supported, and should stimulate a rethink of our approach to disability

A brave new world review