Table 1.

Summary of existing challenges and recommendations

Existing challenges	Recommendations
‘Social distancing’ in refugee camps	• Decongest refugee camps by relocating refugees and providing safer housing options • Build more sanitation centers in refugee camps • Provide basic hygiene kits to allow refugees to follow WHO’s guidelines regarding hand washing • Increase access to COVID-19 testing and face coverings
Treating chronic illnesses	• Utilize community health workers to help displaced persons access care for their chronic conditions • Incorporate refugees into the host countries’ national healthcare systems
Mental health	• Incorporate language interpreters into telehealth phone calls with mental healthcare providers • Incorporate refugees into the host countries’ national healthcare systems
Community engagement	• Survey this population utilizing text messaging and phone calls to better assess and prioritize needs • Provide training and support to frontline workers in refugee camps
Displaced persons’ legal status	• Countries should implement policies that separate legal status from healthcare access • Displaced persons’ legal status should not be negatively affected when they report COVID-19 symptoms • Although not citizens of the host country, this population needs to be incorporated into national response plans