Limited access to testing and treatment for COVID-19 Stateless persons and persons at risk of statelessness often lack legal residency status and may therefore be denied health services or need to pay excessive fees to gain access. Challenges faced by many stateless children and their families in accessing health services are documented by UNHCR in its I am Here: I Belong report. These challenges may also impact their access to testing and treatment for COVID-19. They are also likely to fear coming forward for testing or treatment lest they be subject to arrest or detention. When a vaccine becomes available, stateless persons and those at risk of statelessness may not be included in national immunization programs. Recommendations § § Make health services accessible for all. In line with the recent statement made by prominent UN human rights experts, everyone, without exception, has the right to life-saving interventions and this responsibility lies with the government. Fees should be waived for COVID-19 testing and treatment, regardless of a person’s citizenship status or legal resident status in the country. Create a firewall between health and immigration services for this period, allowing stateless persons, persons at risk of statelessness and others to access services without fear that their information will be shared with immigration authorities. Governments should issue clear assurances to all groups that they will not face arrest or other legal repercussions if they seek testing or medical care. Good practices § § § § § Officials in Malaysia have urged all persons present on the territory to come forward for testing if they show symptoms of COVID-19 and provided assurances that they will not face detention or deportation, regardless of their nationality status or legal resident status. The Government of Portugal has decided to temporarily grant all migrants and asylum seekers residing in the country who have pending applications submitted with the Portuguese immigration office full access to the country’s healthcare services. Stateless persons with pending applications will benefit from this decision. In Kenya, anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 has equal access to testing and treatment without having to establish nationality status or legal resident status. The Government of Kenya is covering the costs of testing and treatment for COVID-19 for all who require it. In Aruba, Curaçao, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, the authorities have announced that non-nationals residing on the territory will be included in the national medical response. In Uruguay, the authorities have announced that persons of concern to UNHCR will be exceptionally cared for by the national healthcare system irrespective of whether they can demonstrate legal resident status. Lack of information leading to limited awareness of mitigation measures The majority of stateless persons and those at risk of statelessness belong to minority groups or live in remote, hard-to-reach locations. They may accordingly face difficulties in obtaining information on transmission risks and mitigation measures. Information may not be provided in a language they speak UNHCR / May 2020 2