The Immigration Services Agency is planning to strengthen measures against the new coronavirus at its facilities around the country.
The number of people being held at immigration facilities is expected to increase, as people cannot be deported amid the global spread of the virus. The agency therefore intends to take steps to prevent or quickly detect infections, thereby preventing the spread of the coronavirus, through such means as introducing thermography and X-ray diagnostic equipment.
The agency has included 3.5 billion yen in the fiscal 2020 draft supplementary budget to introduce thermography at all 17 of its immigration facilities in the nation, and to introduce X-ray equipment that can detect pneumonia at one facility.
To isolate infected people being held at its facilities, the agency will set up rooms at 13 facilities featuring "negative pressure," in which the internal air pressure is lower than that outside to prevent the virus from escaping. It will also provide 20,000 sets of protective wear for agency staff.
According to the agency, people held at immigration facilities are allowed a certain amount of free movement, and it is typical for people from the same country to converse and otherwise interact with each other. It is therefore easy for situations to emerge where people are in close contact in a densely populated environment.
A total of about 1,200 people are currently being held in immigration facilities who have been ordered to leave Japan for such reasons as illegal entry or receiving a guilty verdict in court.
Countries around the world are strengthening border control measures, making it difficult to deport people. The number of people being held is therefore expected to increase.
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