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Folkestone Morehall and Sandgate ward records 167.1% rise in Covid cases
10:22, 25 January 2021
updated: 16:41, 25 January 2021
The area in Kent where 400 asylum seekers are currently living recorded a 167.1% rise in Covid-19 cases in the last seven days.
It follows claims more than 100 people living at Napier Barracks in Folkestone tested positive for the virus.
In the seven days leading to January 19, the Folkestone Morehall and Sandgate ward - for which Napier Barracks is in - recorded 195 cases.
That is up by 122 cases from the previous seven days leading to January 12 and a rise of 167.1%.
It's also the biggest rise from last week in the county.
All data came from the government's website.
Yesterday it was revealed that the Home Office is now planning on re-locating some of the guests at Napier Barracks in order to make it easier for people to social distance at the site.
As a result, some asylum seekers will be moved to hotels - one in the district and several outside of Kent.
Only those with a negative PCR test will be transferred and have to self-isolate for 10 days.
A statement on Folkestone and Hythe District Council's (FHDC) website said: "The Home Office is responsible for Napier Barracks and in line with advice from Public Health England, the Home Office is temporarily moving a number of asylum seekers out from the Napier accommodation facility into self-isolation facilities, in order to allow others at Napier to self-isolate more easily.
"FHDC welcomes this decision as it means greater social distancing is possible in the barracks - reducing the potential spread of Covid."
The exact number of people infected is not known, but in an open letter penned by asylum seekers last week, it was claimed 120 people has tested positive.
The open letter was published to let the public know what the conditions are like at the military camp, which was described as cramped and unhygienic.
Petitions have been created asking the Home Office to close the site - opened for the first time in September - which have now gained thousands of signatures.
A Home Office spokeswoman added: "In line with advice from Public Health England, the Home Office is temporarily moving a number of asylum seekers from the Napier accommodation facility into self-isolation facilities, in order to allow others at Napier to self-isolate more easily."
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