Situation at reception centres in Italy as regards COVID-19 risks
28.8.2020
Question for written answer E-004688/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
Silvia Sardone (ID)
The Italian Government has decided to impose restrictions on discotheques in order to prevent them becoming COVID-19 hotbeds. In doing so, they are seeking to limit the number of places where people are crowded together. In recent weeks there has also been a rise in COVID-19 cases among immigrants in hotspots and at reception centres.
Since these are places where people are bound to be living in close proximity, especially when it comes to dining halls and washrooms, without there being any guarantee of proper hygiene, they really should be the first places to which precautionary measures apply. And yet the Italian Government has not closed them or limited access to them, despite the fact they clearly present a health security risk.
The Governor of Sicily has stated that ‘European and national rules are in shreds. Europe is pretending that nothing is happening and the government has decided – despite our appeals – not to close the ports.’ In these circumstances, reception centres continue to pose a threat, not least because many associations are doing nothing to ensure physical distancing.
In view of the above, can the Commission state:
- 1.Whether it will call on Italy to close down, or at least limit, the use of reception centres?
- 2.What it is doing at a time when more and more migrants are arriving in Italy by sea?