Comparative Cultural Studies: European and Latin American Perspectives 10: 39-58, 2020 DOI: 10.13128/ccselap-12297 | ISSN 2531-9884 (online) Article Migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in Greece in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic THEODOROS FOUSKAS Department of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica E-mail: [email protected] Abstract. COVID-19 cases detected in accommodation centers in mainland Greece, while thousands of asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants are living under unsafe and degrading conditions at the camps on the Aegean islands and others in the main- land. They live mostly in overcrowded Reception and Identification Centers (RICs) and accommodation centers under deplorable conditions, the lack of proper shelter, the extremely unhygienic living conditions. Migrants, asylum seekers and refugees liv- ing in the RICs faced multiple challenges and vulnerabilities that must be considered when responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Keywords: migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, health, COVID-19, Greece. Riassunto. Alcuni casi di COVID-19 sono stati individuati nei centri di accoglienza della terraferma della Grecia, mentre migliaia di richiedenti asilo, profughi e migranti continuano a vivere in condizioni non salutari e degradanti nei campi delle isole egee e altri nella terraferma. Per lo più, essi vivono nei sovraffollati Centri di Identificazio- ne e di Recezione (RIC) e in centri di accoglienza in condizioni deplorevoli, senza un vero e proprio rifugio, in condizioni di vita estremamente non igieniche. I migranti, i richiedenti asilo e i profughi che vivono nei RIC devono far fronte a diverse sfide e vulnerabilità che devono essere prese in considerazione nel momento di affrontare la pandemia del COVID-19. Parole chiave: COVID-19, Grecia, migranti, profughi, richiedenti asilo, sanità. 1. Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic in Greece As part of the worldwide pandemic of the COVID-19 caused by severe acute res- piratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the first COVID-19 case diagnosed in Greece on 26th February 2020 (National Public Health Organization, 2020a). As subse- quent cases in late February and early March confirmed the Government began to imple- ment lockdown measures. Between 10th and 18th March, educational institutions and shops nationwide suspended operations, along with cinemas, gyms, courtrooms, shopping malls, cafés, restaurants, bars, beauty salons, museums and archaeological sites, beaches and ski resorts. On 23rd March, with 695 confirmed cases and 17 deaths, a nationwide Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Open Access. This in an open access article published by Firenze University Press (www.fupress.net/index.php/ccselap) and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attri- bution 4.0 International License. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated. 40 Theodoros Fouskas Figure 1. Number of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases in Greece by 8th August 2020. Source: National Public Health Organization, 2020b. restriction on movement was enforced, whereby citizens could only leave their homes for specific reasons and with a special permit. The gradual reduction of these measures began on 4th May. The data below (Figure 1) show cases from the epidemiological surveil- lance of the disease of the novel coronavirus, based on statistics of the National Public Health Organization and recorded up to 8th August. The latest confirmed laboratory cases of the disease numbered 152, of which 22 were identified at the country’s entry points. The total number of cases is 5,421 (daily change +2.9%), of which 54.7% were men. The latest recorded daily deaths of COVID-19 patients were 1, while a total of 211 deaths have been reported since the outbreak began. The average age of patients who have died was 76 years. The number of patients hospitalized and intubated was 17 (76.5% men) (National Public Health Organization, 2020b). Deaths connected with the COVID-19 are low since the outbreak of the pandemic (see Figure 2) that Greece is not comparable with other EU countries. Excess deaths statis- tics are also negative with low excess mortality (see Figure 3), compared with the last dec- ade as fewer people died of all diseases this year than usual, and the ratio of COVID-19 related deaths to 100,000 population is one of the world’s lowest. Week 2020-34 from all 24 countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany (Berlin), Germany (Hesse), Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxem- bourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK (England), UK (Northern Ireland), UK (Scotland), UK (Wales). Source: Mølbak, K., Vestergaard, L. Nielsen, Bang, H. and Krause, T., 2020/EuroMOMO Project Hub (2020). https://euromo- mo.eu/graphs-and-maps#excess-mortality According to the Asylum Service/Ministry of Migration and Asylum (2020), the num- ber of asylum applications by third-country nationals (TCNs) within the Greek territory over-multiplied between 2013 and 2019, reaching 299,620 applications: from 4,814 appli- Comparative Cultural Studies: European and Latin American Perspectives 10: 39-58, 2020 Migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in Greece in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic 41 Figure 2. Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 deaths. Source: Roser, Ritchie, Ortiz-Ospina and Hasell/Our World In Data, 2020 https://bit.ly/3grWuK9. Figure 3. Excess mortality. cations in 2013 (a monthly average of 688 applications), to i.e., a 14.3% rise between 2013 and 2014. In 2014, there were 9,431 applications at a monthly average of 786, a rise of 39.8% between 2014 and 2015. In 2015, there were 13,187 applications at a monthly aver- age of 1,099, an increase of 287, 1% between 2013 and 2014. In 2016, there were 51,053 applications at a monthly average of 4,254, an increase of 14.9% between 2016 and 2017. DOI: 10.13128/ccselap-12297 | ISSN 2531-9884 (online) 42 Table 1. Asylum Applications. Difference Difference Difference Difference Difference Difference Difference 2013 % (2013- 2014 % (2014- 2015 % (2015- 2016 % (2016- 2017 % (2017- 2018 % (2018- 2019 % (2019- 2020* Total Comparative Cultural Studies: European and Latin American Perspectives 10:39-58,2020 American Perspectives andLatin European Studies: Cultural Comparative 2014) 2015) 2016) 2017) 2018) 2019) 2020) Total 4,814 9,431 13,187 51,053 58,642 66,960 77,285 18,255 299,620 Monthly average 688 14.3% ↑ 786 39.8% ↑ 1,099 287.1% ↑ 4,254 14.9% ↑ 4,887 14.2% ↑ 5,580 15.4% ↑ 6,440 66.2% ↑ 9,128 4,108 * Until 29.02.2020. Source: Asylum Service/Ministry of Migration and Asylum (2020). ple deficiencies and lack of medical doctors resulting in in resulting medical of doctors lack and deficiencies ple 2).Multi (see Table overcrowded severely are Camps 2019). 2019;Oxfam, (Kathimerini, Greece mainland inthe several and others islands the Aegean on camps the at conditions degrading and unsafe inhuman, under live migrants and refugees seekers, asylum of thousands Greece, 2020).In (WHO, settings vices inhumanitarian ser healthcare access to migrants and refugees, seekers, asylum of thecapacity compromise facilities healthcare of lack and medicines of 2020).Shortages (Jalbout, ness distasteful to due eat to not or the wait abandon to some leads which quality, describedof alow meals, often and food receiving inqueues waiting 2-3hours includes migrants and refugees, seekers, asylum of routine daily The psychologists). medical socialing doctors, workers health services 2020)(includ insufficient (Jalbout, by deteriorated 2020) (Veizis, sewage system improper with sanitation) and water of lack (including conditions living unhygienic the extremely shelter, proper of the lack tions, condi deplorable with along centers, accommodation crucialovercrowded sufficient servicesof 2020), (Jalbout, the lack 2020).Also, (WHO, means they the relevant lack as necessary health conditions public without conditions and facilities inovercrowded mostly theyID-19, as live diseases, COV as such contracting of risks increased to exposed are migrants and refugees, seekers, asylum states, cation Centers and Accommodation Centers Centers andAccommodation Centers cation 2. etc. tory status, the statu rendering and treating, identifying, receiving, in above, mentioned the flows of inthe management ety, soci services,theGreek and thecompetent mechanism, 1). Table 2020(see 4and 66.2% between 2019and Figure of increase an 9,128applications, of average amonthly at 18,255applications were have 29.02.2020),there (until 2020 2019.In 15.4%between 2018and of increase an 6,440applications, of average amonthly at applications 77,285 were 2019,there 5,580.In of average amonthly at 66,960applications were 2108,there 2018.In 2017 and 14.2%between of increase an 4,886,marking of average amonthly at 58,637applications were 2017,there In Deplorable conditions in the Reception andIdentifi intheReception conditions Deplorable As the World Health Organization (WHO) (2020) (2020) (WHO) Organization Health the World As The above demonstrates the pressure on the state state on the pressure the demonstrates above The Theodoros Fouskas Theodoros - - - - - - - - - Migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in Greece in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic 43 Figure 4. Asylum Applications by year. * Until 29.02.2020. Source: Asylum Service/Ministry of Migration and Asylum (2020). numerous health issues, deterioration of health due to weather changes, for example, there is no insulation or