Abstract
Several characteristics of refugee and migrant populations make them susceptible to acquire COVID-19. To fully understand the impact of COVID-19 on refugees and migrants in the Americas, it is important to consider the broader geopolitical context and appreciate the differences among migratory groups. There are three migrant groups in the Americas that are particularly susceptible to COVID-19: Central American migrants at the northern Mexico border, Venezuelans within South America, and Haitians in the Dominican Republic. Refugees and displaced migrants are the world’s collective responsibility, and thus, it would be imprudent to displace their care to resource constrained developing nations.
Highlights
Several characteristics of refugee and migrant populations make them susceptible to acquire COVID-19
Refugees and migrants typically live in overcrowded and unsanitary shelters or multigenerational inner city housing, which impair their ability to adhere to proper hand hygiene as well as to maintain appropriate physical distance from each other. They have poor access to healthcare services due to a lack of health insurance coverage and because of a pervasive fear of identification by law enforcement in their host country. Even when they utilize healthcare services, they often are unable to afford medications to treat underlying chronic diseases, like diabetes and hypertension, which provisionally appear to increase the severity of COVID-19 infection
Refugee and migrant populations are highly mobile, which increases the opportunities for close contact and exposure to other people affected with respiratory diseases such as COVID-19
Summary
Several characteristics of refugee and migrant populations make them susceptible to acquire COVID-19. Refugee and migrant populations are highly mobile, which increases the opportunities for close contact and exposure to other people affected with respiratory diseases such as COVID-19.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
