Inspectors say Covid outbreak virtually inevitable at barracks housing asylum seekers

The government has always insisted that two military barracks used to house asylum seekers were fit for purpose despite an outbreak of Covid in which nearly 200 were infected.

A damning report today by prison and borders inspectors has concluded the cramped conditions meant that a large-scale outbreak of Covid was virtually inevitable.

The report goes on to say “there were fundamental failures of leadership and planning by the Home Office”.