Asked by: Rosie Duffield (Labour - Canterbury)
Question to the Home Office:
What steps the Government is taking to protect asylum seekers housed at Napier Barracks, Folkestone, from covid-19 infection.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
We take the welfare of asylum seekers extremely seriously and accommodation at Napier Barracks was configured in accordance with public health advice with a range of infection control measures in place. Despite our best efforts a number of those accommodated at the site have tested positive for coronavirus and an outbreak management plan was put in place.
Following the serious disturbance caused by some asylum seekers on site recently, immediate steps were taken to reconfigure accommodation to maintain outbreak management and allow for self-isolation of all those remaining on site.