Reports that a resident of a direct provision centre in the west has been diagnosed with coronavirus needs to be a wake-up call to the health authorities and those charged with their care. The congested locations, where social distancing is almost impossible, are likely to becomes centres of infection unless action is taken immediately to relocate their most vulnerable residents to appropriate facilities. On Monday, the Department of Justice promised only to establish an “off-site self-isolation facility for centre residents who are suspected of having the virus or who have the virus with mild symptoms”. Currently 5,686 refugees and asylum seekers, including 1,739 children, are living in 39 direct provision centres. “There are empty hotels, empty Airbnb properties, empty college accommodation – if appropriate, we should use these before it’s too late,” he says.

Source: The Irish Times March 24, 2020 21:00 UTC