Blame positioning in Covid-19 response: Refugees and asylees as victims

Throughout history, infectious disease outbreaks have been associated with vulnerable and marginalized people and communities. For instance, previous epidemics and pandemics such as HIV, SARS and Ebola were linked to certain groups [1]. Infectious disease outbreaks create fear, and fear is a key factor for unwarranted blame, discrimination and stigmatization [2]. The emergence and the rapid spread of the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has therefore exposed sociopolitical fractures and heightened the iniquities within communities [2]. Given its indiscriminate nature of infection, Covid-19 has the potential to be a unifier. Unfortunately racialized and discriminatory Covid-19 responses have increased, which are disproportionally affecting marginalized groups, particularly refugees and asylees. Acts of blaming and discrimination are occurring within historical, social and political contexts as refugees and asylees have been and continued to be blamed, discriminated and stigmatized falsely for spreading the virus [3].

Several situations of unfair blame have been reported across countries in response to Covid-19. For instance the second wave of Covid-19 cases in Victoria, Australia, which occurred between June–October has been linked to activities of migrant communities. While there was a lack of culturally and linguistic diverse (CALD)-appropriate public health messaging, CALD groups, especially migrant communities have been blamed for spreading multiple clusters of Covid-19 cases across some suburbs [4]. This situation suggests a lack of sensitivity in portrayal of the over-representation of migrant communities in case numbers. The main factor that prompted and promoted the inaccurate blame and criticism is the unconfirmed report that migrant communities use social media from their home country or amongst their network of friends as their main source of information. With this, officials believe migrant groups do not adhere to government and public health message [4]. Another factor is the unconfirmed news report claiming one of Melbourne's coronavirus clusters originated at a family Eid celebration. Though this is an unconfirmed and unscientific report, it has succeeded in singling out and pushing blame onto certain migrant groups and exposed them to unfair criticism.

A very similar case has been reported in Italy, where the former Deputy Prime Minister, Mattteo Salvini falsely linked Covid-19 outbreak in Italy to African asylees [5]. The former Prime Minister has politicized Covid-19 outbreak in the country and offered discriminatory response to the disease by attacking the Italian government for not defending the country's borders. Salvini unscientifically linked the outbreak to the docking of the NGO Ocean Viking rescue ship with 276 African migrants onboard. Meanwhile, the rescued asylum seekers were placed in isolation for two weeks to check for coronavirus, and none of the cases in Italy, so far, have been linked to African migrants by scientific reports [5]. These examples and many that this commentary did not discuss suggest that reinforcement of racial blaming and discrimination has been given much attention more than social inclusion, justice and solidarity by political leaders in the Covid-19 crisis. Political leaders continue to double down, for example, on border issues and combining public health information and restriction with anti-migrant rhetoric [3].

The indiscriminate and inaccurate blame is based on the fact that refugees and asylees are within the lower socioeconomic groups, have greater comorbidities and limited health care access, work in precarious jobs, live in crowded and unsanitary conditions especially in resource –poor settings such as refugee camps that lack social protection which make self-isolation and social distancing highly impossible [6]. Furthermore, under lockdown, refugees and asylees may have poor internet connections and limited access to information. However, protecting health and fighting against a common enemy (Covid-19) rely not only on a well-functioning health system, but also on maximum social inclusion, justice and solidarity within and among communities. The absence of these important factors worsens inequalities and inequities while magnifying unwarranted blaming and scapegoating. The caveat is that by positioning blames on refugees and asylees as well as other migrant groups, the priorities of the country or state are shifted away from the structural factors that are requiring immediate attention and action. Instead of positioning blame, governments and policy-makers should consider actively and genuinely involving migrant groups in the ongoing development of Covid-19 response plans for a more inclusive and participatory response. Let's fight a common enemy with oneness, respect and solidarity, for this one too shall pass—Peace!

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Prince Peprah: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, The writing, reviewing and submission was done by PP, who is the sole author for this paper.

Declaration of competing interest

No relevant interests to declare.