In the wake of rising Covid-19 cases in the State, the Directorate of Prisons and Correctional Services has switched back to its previous standard operating procedure (SOP) to prevent outbreak of virus in jails. In a letter, the directorate has directed all Jail Superintendents to strictly follow the SOP issued by the Home Department in August 2020.
Anybody found positive in this process should be sent to the “Dedicated Covid Care Centre, Dedicated Covid Health Centre, Dedicated Covid Hospital” by the concerned remanding agencies like police, forest, excise or Vigilance as the case may be for treatment with the permission of remanding courts.
They would be shifted to the jails only after recovery. All Covid-positive prisoners should be sent to nearest Covid Care Centres and critically ill patients to Covid Care Hospitals. Covid-positive cases should not be kept in the jails, the SOP stated.