@OntHumanRights Commissioner @RenuMandhane letter to Min Health @celliottability re #humanrights issues pandemic planning, including #COVID19 triage guidelines & impact of pandemic measures (e.g. physical distancing) on specific populations (1) http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/news_centre/letter-minister-elliott-potential-human-rights-issues-ministry-health%E2%80%99s-covid-19-response

(2) Re triage: "vitally important that any process to develop clinical triage protocols include not only medical professionals and ethicists, but also human rights experts and representatives from vulnerable groups that may be disproportionately affected by its operation"

(3) points to challenge for some to follow public health guidance isolation and physical distancing, increasing risk for COVID-19: people with disabilities & addictions, Indigenous & racialized people, women &children facing domestic violence, those without stable housing,

(4) "people from vulnerable groups may be over-represented in essential service professions (cleaners, cashiers, construction workers etc.) and tend to be recipients of essential services themselves."

(5) and: "pre-existing health inequalities and poor health outcomes within these communities, especially and including Indigenous communities" Therefore: need for gathering detailed data on human rights impact

@ARCHDisability @CACL_ACIC @picardonhealth @spaikin @theresaboyle @jackhauen @jyangstar