Monday 28 November 2022 06:05 PM Migrants with diptheria symptoms will no longer be allowed to leave Manston ... trends now
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Migrants with diptheria symptoms will no longer be allowed to leave the Manston processing centre in Kent - or will instead be sent to Covid-style isolation hotels - from today.
As part of Government action to deal with a rise in the number of infections, immigration minister Robert Jenrick this afternoon announced fresh guidance on the housing of asylum seekers.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Jenrick confirmed that 50 cases of diptheria had now been reported in asylum accommodation.
He also told MPs that one person who had been staying at the Manston centre died in hospital with an infectious disease after arriving in Britain a week before.
There have been fears about the risk of diptheria being spread across the country following reports that dozens of asylum seekers with suspected infections have already been moved from Manston to hotels around the UK.
Mr Jenrick insisted the risk to the wider British population from onward transmission was 'very low' due to the nationwide childhood vaccination programme.
But he stressed that ministers would be 'vigilant' over the issue, telling MPs: 'From today, no one presenting with symptoms will progress into the asylum accommodation system.
'They will either remain at Manston, isolating for a short period, or they will travel to a designated isolation centre in secure transport where they will be treated until deemed medically fit.
'This is a well-practised protocol from Covid
