Here.pdf

Professor Richard Coker provides an expert opinion on the risks posed by COVID-19 to immigration detainees in the UK. He explains that COVID-19 is a coronavirus that can be spread between individuals through respiratory droplets, contact with infected surfaces, and potentially through the faecal-oral route. Symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild to severe, with severely affected individuals suffering from critical illness, and those who recover may still be at risk of future health complications. The professor identifies underlying conditions, such as age and pre-existing health conditions, that may increase the risk of contracting COVID-19, suffering severe symptoms, and dying. He notes that the conditions in immigration detention centres, including poor hygiene, ventilation, and limited space, may increase the risk of a widespread outbreak of COVID-19. To minimize this risk, he recommends practical measures such as proper isolation and containment of COVID-19 cases, and expresses the urgency of taking preventative measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 entering the immigration detention estate.