The news is full of stories about how COVID-19 disproportionately affects certain communities that face language barriers and have limited access to health information. In this article we are going to share some information we have gathered from different sources to help providers reach these vulnerable communities. These can also help non-English speakers get informed about best practices for preventing the spread of COVID-19, as well as how and where to seek testing if they develop symptoms.
1. CDC Resources
This site provides downloadable translations of medical information and materials regarding COVID-19 recommendations. The information is available in Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, as well as 30 other languages.
2. World Health Organization
Here coronavirus advice is available to the public in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
3. COVID – 19 Multilingual Resource Hub
This is a great resource from UCLA that gathers written medical translations and videos in several languages. The information can be filtered using the following categories: quick facts, the science of COVID-19, how to be safe, symptoms and your health, materials for children and COVID-related racism.
4. Harvard University's COVID-19 Health Literacy Project
This includes fact sheets in more than 30 languages including information about prevention and what to do if you are sick or pregnant. It also provides information relevant to different age groups.
5. National Association of School Psychologists
This site addresses how to help children adapt to what has become our new normal. The information is provided in Spanish, Amharic, Chinese, Korean, French, Vietnamese, Bahasa Indonesia, Urdu, and Hmong.
6. Washington State Department of Health
This is a very comprehensive site that provides general information and also covers topics such as symptoms, testing, high risk individuals, giving birth during the pandemic, recommendations for massage therapists, screening visitors for symptoms, etc. The COVID-19 educational materials here are in more than 26 languages. The site also includes American Sign Language videos.
7. Multnomah County
This site offers information in 25 languages including Spanish, simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, and Arabic. In addition to the translations, it also provides American Sign Language videos. Topics include: how COVID-19 spreads, how to protect yourself and how to find help.
8. Cielo
COVID-19 videos in indigenous languages of the Americas including Tu’un Savi (Mixtec, Mexico), Zapotec (Oxaca, Mexico), Chinanteco (Oxaca, Mexico), Yaqui (Mexico), Me’phaa de Malinaltepec (Mexico), and four variations of Maya (Guatemala).
9. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor
This site addresses COVID-19 concerns related to occupational safety and health. It is available in English and Spanish.
10. Cultural Orientation Resource Center (CORE)
Audio podcast in Arabic, Burmese, Dari, English, Kinyarwanda, Russian, and Swahili. It covers COVID-19 symptoms and spread, safety recommendations, as well as rules and guidance for isolation, quarantine, social distancing, and sheltering in place.
10 Multilingual COVID-19 Resources for Diverse Communities