The Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland has said environments such as direct provision centres would be expected to have outbreaks of Covid-19 as there is no way of avoiding close contact with others.
MASI spokesperson Bulelani Mfaco's comments come as the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) said it has growing and significant concerns about the number of outbreaks in congregated settings.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Mfaco said he is concerned as the centres are "enclosed with a large number of people living in close quarters".
He said: "When there was an outbreak in Newbridge, there were three in one bedroom who all tested positive. None of them had any way of avoiding close contact with others living in the