How the blind and visually impaired community experience struggles amid the COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every American, but the way local governments have responded has adversely impacted blind and visually impaired people. and last updated 2021-01-31 20:24:48-05 The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every American, but the way local governments have responded has adversely impacted blind and visually impaired people. âThe textures of my world have gone away," said Dorianna Pollack. "What the ground feels like underneath me, whatâs underneath my hands, all of that texture, hugging people, all of thatâs sort of gone away."