The prefect of Imperia, a town in northwestern Italy, has said that the Roja camp for migrants in the Ventimiglia area near the French border has not been closed and still hosts 120 people. However, after three cases of COVID-19 in recent months, no more migrants will be allowed in.
The prefect of Imperia, a town in northwestern Italy, told ANSA this week that the Roja camp for migrants had not been closed but that no one had been allowed to enter since May 6 to prevent a COVID-19 infection cluster.
Prefect Alberto Intini said that "the guests can leave for a few hours for a walk but they must return for lunch, dinner and overnight, otherwise they will not be allowed to re-enter." The measure was to prevent the center from becoming a 'hotel' or a springboard toward France.
"Those without papers must be deported," Intini said. He also stressed that the center will not receive any more migrants until the pandemic is over and that three cases of COVID-19 had been found in the camp in recent months: While one person was hospitalized, the other two spent the quarantine period in the camp.