Sicily has blocked the transfer of 244 migrants who were quarantined for 14 days at a hotspot in Pozzallo after landing on the island. The decision comes after "ordinary" movements of people to and from the island on ferries and road and rail transport were suspended on March 16 to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
244 migrants who were quarantined until March 8 at a hotspot in Pozzallo, a Sicilian city near Ragusa, will not be transferred after movements to and from Sicily were suspended on March 16 due to the coronavirus emergency, Mayor Roberto Ammatuna announced this week. The migrants will probably remain in isolation inside the center until April 3, Ammatuna said.
The transport ministry on March 16 said that "ordinary" movements of people to and from Sicily on ferries and road and rail transport have been suspended to curb the spread of the coronavirus from the north to the south. People can now only cross the Strait of Messina "for proven reasons of work, health and other exceptional needs," it said.
Migrants 'must not leave facility'
The mayor said the hosting facility currently hosts 244 adults after 33 unaccompanied minors were placed under the care of foster families over the past few days. A total of 277 people were rescued at the end of February by the migrant rescue ship Ocean Viking off Libya, Ammatuna said.
"Had it not been for the coronavirus emergency, they would all have been moved and the center would be empty but, for now, we can't do things differently," he said. "The prefecture is in charge of transfers but, from what I understand, it is getting organized to move them in April."
Sicily closed due to coronavirus emergency
Most connections to and from the islands of Sardinia and Sicily have been suspended as the central government is urging residents to stay at home and regional governors are tightening controls on commuters in efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Police are screening travelers at the Sicilian port of Messina connecting the island to Calabria, using thermoscanners to take their temperature and asking for proof that they are moving for a valid reason, under tight measures implemented earlier this month to deal with the emergency.
Only a few dozen travelers reached the island by ferry or train this week, authorities said. Sicily Governor Nello Musumeci did not give permission to over 200 Sicilians, mostly workers, to travel to the island on March 18 from Malta.