The overcrowded Moria migrant camp on the Greek island of Lesbos has been quarantined for two weeks after recording its first case of Covid-19.
A 40-year-old Somalian refugee tested positive and has been placed in isolation in hospital, the Greek government said. Moria is home to about 13,000 people, more than four times its stated capacity, and has often been criticised for its dismal living conditions.
The infected man had been granted a residence permit to live in Greece and left Moria on July 17. He recently returned, however, and had been living in a tent beside the fence just outside the camp.
About 27,000 migrants and refugees live in camps on the Greek islands after arriving from nearby Turkey.
The International Rescue Committee has pressed for vulnerable people to be moved from Moria to a safer place.
“Overcrowding and limited access to clean water and washing facilities have left tens of thousands of people across the Greek islands vulnerable and exposed to the virus,” the committee said. “Covid-19 could spread rapidly and those at risk, including the elderly, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions, must be urgently evacuated to safety before it is too late,” it added.
Greece has recorded 10,757 Covid-19 cases since its first infection in February, and 273 deaths.
In recent weeks the country has experienced a surge in cases, which has forced authorities to gradually reimpose restrictions to curb the spread of the virus.
The below gallery shows the arduous conditions migrants endure within the camp.
