The Pandemic’s Most Forgotten Population? The Impact of COVID-19 on the Health and Living Conditions of Newly Arrived Immigrants in Spain

Abstract

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Throughout history, pandemics have increased, with significant impacts like the Black Death and the 1918 influenza pandemic. Modern factors like globalization, migration, and closer human-animal relationships have played a role in their spread. The COVID-19 pandemic, particularly, highlighted the complex relationship between disease transmission and human mobility, especially affecting immigrants. During the pandemic, immigrants faced high mortality rates due to precarious living conditions, overcrowded spaces, and language barriers. Additionally, access to healthcare was inconsistent, with some European countries providing emergency services for undocumented immigrants. Restrictions on immigration and healthcare access were tied to rising xenophobia and political discourses. The chapter explores the challenges immigrants faced during the pandemic, such as inadequate healthcare access, economic struggles, and social insecurity, and emphasizes the need for more inclusive public health policies.