The COVID-19 pandemic on immigrants: a national project for the impact assessment of the disease and effective interventions to reduce the spread and promote health

Abstract

Within the prevention programmes of the Italian Ministry of Health, a project aimed to containing the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 virus in the immigrant population in Italy has entrusted to the Regional Health Authority of Sicily Region (Southern Italy). New evidence has been promoted to disseminate and share public health intervention models. The project involved public health institutions across the national territory and was carried out during the COVID-19pandemic. The project reached the general aim through specific objectives, identifying information sources and health indicators, evaluating the impact of COVID-19, and promoting intervention programmes for taking charge immigrant population. Social distancing, although necessary, has further amplified the gap of inequalities in health, confirming major vulnerability for infection. Having filled some knowledge gaps and proposed prevention tools has been useful for the containment of the virus, for a possible resurgence of the phenomenon, for application in other emergency contexts, and for recalibration in new epidemic events.