ATHENS – The Migration and Asylum Ministry will gradually transfer 2,380 vulnerable asylum seekers and their families from the reception and identification centres of Lesvos, Chios, Kos, Samos and Leros to accommodation facilities on the Greek mainland, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The transfer, which will begin after the Easter holidays, is expected to take two weeks, the ministry said on Thursday.

Among the 2,380 to be transferred are 200 asylum seekers aged over 60 years old and their families, who together total some 650 people. The other 1,730 are younger people with underlying health issues and their families.

The selection of the persons to be transferred was carried out following an evaluation of their medical history by the competent ministry agencies, the National Health Organisation, UNCHR and civic organisations.

Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi, in a statement, noted that the aim was to protect those residing in hotspots from the public health crisis. “We address the challenges of the pandemic with a plan by protecting those hosted in the facilities and local residents,” he added.