Several asylum seekers recently hospitalised after testing positive for Covid-19 have found themselves with nowhere to live after their recovery. Health sources have told The Irish Examiner that at least one east coast centre refused to permit two asylum seekers to return to their accommodation last week when they were due to be discharged from hospital. The Department of Justice, which this week announced 650 additional beds for asylum seekers, has said “no resident will be refused accommodation on the basis that they have tested positive for Covid-19”. The Irish Association of Social Workers said it is worried about possible Covid-19 clusters developing in direct provision centres, calling the current reported provision for self-isolation across the DP "wholly inadequate". Non-governmental organisations have been warning for weeks that there is no adequate scope for physical distancing or self isolation in many direct provision and emergency accommodation centres.

Source: Irish Examiner April 01, 2020 17:15 UTC