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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Linda Geddes

Alarm after EHRC says long Covid should not be treated as disability

Mobile Covid-19 testing unit
A mobile Covid-19 mobile testing unit in King's Cross, London. According to the ONS, 784,000 people who have tested positive said they had been affected by symptoms lasting longer than a year. Photograph: Vuk Valcic/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock

People suffering from long Covid have reacted with alarm to comments by government’s equalities watchdog that the condition should not be treated as a disability.

Under the Equalities Act, anyone with a physical or mental impairment that has lasted for longer than 12 months and substantially impacted their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities qualifies as disabled and is entitled to protection to ensure that they aren’t discriminated against in the workplace. This includes requesting that their employer makes “reasonable adjustments”, such as flexible working hours or home working, to ensure that they can continue working.

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