One hundred migrants who were being hosted by the parish church of Vicofaro in Pistoia were taken to former hotels that have been turned into healthcare facilities after 15 residents tested positive for coronavirus. A total of 20 migrants will remain in the parish church's residence to take care of the home.
A total of 100 migrants in the night between October 22 and 23 were transferred from the Pistoia parish church of Vicofaro, where 15 people tested positive for coronavirus last week.
The migrants were taken to hotels that have been turned into medical facilities in the nearby town of Montecatini.
Twenty migrants have remained in Vicofaro for the time being and are ''taking care of the house'', said parish priest, Father Massimo Biancalani.
"I was able to obtain that 20 migrant guests were allowed to remain in Vicofaro for a few more days to take care of the facility."
15 test positive for coronavirus
Last week the church's facilities, hosting some 120 migrants, were declared a 'red zone' for health reasons by Mayor Alessandro Tomasi who was afraid of an outbreak as Italy is experiencing a second wave of coronavirus.
Security officers had been patrolling the church and the area around it for over a week.
All guests at the facility were tested for coronavirus on October 22 and 15 tested positive for COVID-19.
The 15 migrants were isolated in a former hotel that is now being used for people who have tested positive for coronavirus or who need to be isolated. The other 96 guests tested negative, including 76 who accepted to be quarantined in one of these hotels.
Doctor Daniele Mannelli, the director of local healthcare facilities, said medical screening procedures of the migrants staying at the parish church have been completed.
Local health authority looking for hostels for Vicofaro migrants
Meanwhile Tuscany's local health authority ASL is looking for hostels and guesthouses to host the people who were staying in Vicofaro or in other communities and who do not need to remain in isolation.
The facilities, the local ASL said in a statement, need to have rooms for one or more guests, a common area for meals. They also need to ensure reception and hotel services: cleaning, fresh towels and sheets and possibly one meal a day.
Once the ASL has stipulated an agreement with a hostel or guesthouse, it will be valid for 60 days with the possibility of renewing the accord for a year maximum, the health authority said. Guesthouses and hostels can present an application until October 30.