Women who are currently locked up in Yarl’s Wood detention centre have told the charity Women for Refugee Women (WRW) that there is a case of COVID-19 in the centre, and that measures being put in place are confusing and poorly implemented.

Women have stated that:

• There has been a lax attitude to hygiene up to now in the centre, with women having to ask staff to remind others to wash hands, and no extra soap or hand sanitisers provided at mealtimes;
• Last night, while the women were eating, staff came in and everyone was told to go to their rooms immediately and stay there;
• This morning women were given masks and gloves and told to wash their hands every half an hour and that they could move around the centre if they used the masks and gloves – but they were only given one pair of gloves and one mask each and no information about how to use them effectively;
• Some of the women in contact with WRW have underlying health conditions that would make them more vulnerable if they became infected with COVID-19, but they have not been given any extra protection or information.

One woman who has been in the centre for more than a fortnight said:

“Now they are taking precautions, but they were taking no precautions until yesterday. So right now everyone is panicking. We know there is a pandemic going on and here we are not being given the means to protect ourselves.”

Another woman who has serious underlying health conditions, said:

“I am so scared that I will die. I am not a young woman and my health problems mean that I am at high risk. I feel so afraid.”

Another woman said:

“I don’t feel safe. I’ve locked myself away and am not talking to anyone because I have asthma and am afraid for my health. I just want to get out. This whole thing is just terrifying.”

Natasha Walter, director of Women for Refugee Women, says:

“Immigration detention is pointless and cruel even in normal circumstances. From what women are telling us now, even basic precautions have not been taken at the centre to prevent and deal with a COVID-19 infection. Many of the women in detention have underlying health conditions that would make them even more at risk if infected. The Home Office is putting already vulnerable women at risk through its chaotic and inhumane system of detention. It is time to close the detention centre, and ensure that every individual receives the support they need to protect themselves and others during this pandemic.”