Coronavirus: Greece places second quarantined migrant camp

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The Malakasa camp, located 38 kilometers from Athens, was placed "in total sanitary confinement".

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The 53-year-old Afghan national affected by Covid-19 presented himself to the clinic in Malakasa camp after experiencing symptoms of Covid-19. He was already suffering from an illness.

Located some 38 km northeast of Athens, the camp was placed " in total sanitary confinement " for fourteen days, with prohibition from entering or leaving, said the Ministry of Migration.

The patient was taken to a hospital in Athens. It was there that he tested positive for coronavirus. His family has been placed in solitary confinement and a full camp review is underway.

Minister Notis Mitarachi warned that the violators would be prosecuted.

Concern over the Aegean Islands

On Thursday, a source of infection had already been detected in the Ritsona migrant camp, 80 km north of Athens. Twenty-eight people tested positive there.

A source of infection had been identified Thursday in that of Ritsona, 80 km north of Athens, where 23 people have so far tested positive, while the migrant camps hosted by Greece host dozens of thousands of asylum seekers in precarious conditions. Difficult to respect the instructions of "social distancing" and barrier gestures when you have to queue to take a shower.

There is particular concern over the five Aegean islands near Turkey - Lesbos, Samos, Chios, Kos and Levros - which house some 36,000 migrants in places planned to receive six times less.

Confinement of the country extended by three weeks

On Saturday, Greek authorities announced the extension for three weeks, until April 27, of the containment measures in force. “ Difficult weeks await us. If we relax our efforts, the virus will destroy us , ”said Nikos Hardalias, Deputy Minister of Civil Protection.

Greece has nearly 1,700 cases of contamination and 68 deaths. The Greek government hopes to prevent displacement of people on the occasion of the Orthodox Easter, which falls this year on April 19.

(with AFP)

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• Greece
• Coronavirus
• Health and Medicine
• Refugees
• International Migration

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