Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether all irregular migrants arriving in the UK are tested for COVID-19; what proportion of such migrants have had positive COVID-19 test results; and how many migrants have had to be admitted to hospital as a result of COVID-19 within a week of arrival in the last 10-week period.

All individuals arriving by small boats are tested by the Home Office for COVID-19 using a lateral flow test immediately on arrival. If the result is positive, they are immediately isolated along with any family members.

Testing of migrants arriving in the UK by other irregular means may vary depending on who is the first responder. However, in line with recent updates to the Government’s Coronavirus regulations, new arrivals to Immigration removal centres and residential short-term holding facilities are tested on or by day 2 by PCR test. Within asylum accommodation, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Home Office conduct day 2 and day 8 testing, which is administered and managed by our service provider staff on site.

The Home Office does not routinely publish information on the proportion of migrants testing positive for COVID-19.