CoViD-19 in Italy: homeless population needs protection

Recenti Prog Med. 2020 May;111(5):295-296. doi: 10.1701/3366.33409.

Abstract

Italy is one of the most affected countries by the new coronavirus (CoViD-19) pandemic. In the country, there are an estimated 49,000-52,000 homeless people. People experiencing homelessness are among the potentially most vulnerable groups to the CoViD-19. Despite this, in Italy there is a worrying delay in implementation of a national coordinated strategy to protect homeless people from the potentially devastating effects caused by CoViD-19. In order to contain the epidemic among the most vulnerable people, we propose a short operational agenda based on the field experience of the medical-humanitarian organization Medici per i Diritti Umani (Doctors for Human Rights, Italy - MEDU) as well as on the example of initiatives taken by other countries.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control
  • Human Rights
  • Humans
  • Ill-Housed Persons / statistics & numerical data*
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Pandemics / prevention & control
  • Physicians / organization & administration*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control
  • Relief Work
  • Vulnerable Populations / statistics & numerical data*