COVID-19 Impact in the Italian Reception System for Migrants during the Nationwide Lockdown: A National Observational Study

Abstract

From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, attention was raised to protect vulnerable populations, including migrants and refugees (M&R), with the claim to leave no one behind in the pandemic response. In particular, concern was expressed in M&R’s reception centres since several COVID-19 outbreaks had been observed in Europe. Our study aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 in the Italian reception system in the first pandemic wave in terms of incidence and health outcomes. A national survey focusing on the lockdown period of early 2020 was performed among reception centre managers. The survey achieved reaching around 70% of reception facilities and hosts. A national cumulative incidence of 400 positive cases per 100,000 and a north–south geographical gradient were observed. Sixty-eight facilities out of the 5038 participating in the survey reported confirmed cases and few COVID-19 clusters were detected especially in accommodations with the highest facility saturation index. Positive migrants were hospitalised in 25.9% of cases and no COVID-19 related deaths were observed. The study highlighted a cumulative incidence of cases and a geographical distribution similar to that of the general resident population, showing a global COVID-19 resilience in the Italian reception system in the period of observation, well beyond the expectations.

Epidemiological Characteristics of COVID-19 Cases in Non-Italian Nationals in Sicily: Identifying Vulnerable Groups in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sicily, Italy

“…Although the incidence of non-hospitalized cases with clinical outcomes is similar between foreigners and the general resident population (84-94%), as shown in another study carried out in Italy [19], the percentage of hospitalized cases was higher in undocumented (13.4%) and nE-HMP foreigners (9.5%) than in our study (4.5-6.4%) and in the one carried out by Fabiani et al [16].…”

“…On the other hand, in Greece, one of the countries hosting most of the migrants and refugees in the Mediterranean region, almost 50% of COVID-19 hospitalized patients were refugees and migrants from the capital city [22]. According to the Italian surveillance system, non-Italian cases had a 39% increased risk of being hospitalized and a 19% increased risk of being admitted to an intensive care unit, especially in those coming from nE-HMP [19].…”

Newly arrived migrants did not represent an additional COVID-19 burden for Italy: data from the italian information flow

“…Regarding the clinical characteristics of the positive cases, no associated comorbidity was recorded. Although a possible explanation for this could lie in the initial medical assessment carried out at the border, which is often not oriented towards a thorough clinical evaluation of newly arrived subjects, this finding is in line with the low prevalence of comorbidities observed in other studies, [ 23 ] thus confirming a significant “healthy migrant effect” in migrants reaching Italy by sea.…”

Migrants’ human rights and health protection during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Mediterranean Sea: what we have learnt from direct inspections in two Italian hotspots

“…From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, international attention has been focused on protecting vulnerable subjects, including migrants and refugees, with the aim of safeguarding individual and public health (12). The spread of the COVID-19 infection in the reception centers for migrants and refugees in Europe has been of special concern (13). Inter-governmental co-operation in the "management" of migration is expanding rapidly, with regional inter-governmental consultative processes operating in all European countries, usually focusing on strengthening inter-state cooperation in the control and prevention of irregular migration through improved border checks, information sharing, return agreements, and other measures (14).…”