Around 46 inmates and staffs in national Capital’s three jail complexes, Rohini, Tihar and Mandoli Prisons have tested positive for Covid-19.
According to data shared by jail authorities till Sunday, 46 inmates were tested positive.
“Out of them, a maximum of 29 inmates were from Tihar and the remaining 17 were from Mandoli jail. Staffs in Prison Complexes of Tihar, Rohinu and Mandoli have also been tested positive for Covid-19,” said a senior prison official.
Overall till Sunday, 43 prison staffs were tested positive for Covid-19. Out of them 25 are from Tihar, 12 from Rohinu and six from Mandoli jail complex.
"All the infected inmates as well as staffs have been under isolation and are recovering," said the senior prison official.
As part of steps taken against the spread of the viral disease in Tihar, Mandoli and Rohini jail complexes, dispensaries in Delhi jails turned Covid care centres, oxygen plant in Tihar to start working soon, officials said.
“Many medical isolation cells have been set up for inmates showing slight symptoms of Covid-19. Those who test positive but are asymptomatic will be kept in separate isolation cells within the same jail,” he said.
The 120-bed hospital in Tihar and the 48-bed facility in Mandoli have been converted into Covid Health Centres with the round-the-clock presence of doctors, 50 oxygen concentrators and over 100 cylinders and essential medicines to treat patients.
The jail administration said they have formed four committees for the inmate and staff who test Covid positive.
“Each of these panels has been divided into four jurisdictions with each comprising four members, including jail staff and officers, tasked with looking after them if they need further help and guidance. All the new inmates will have to undergo quarantine for 10 days and mandatorily undergo the rapid-antigen test,” said the official.
Social distancing among staff and inmates is followed to the extent possible. Inmates are mostly restricted to within their wards and an educational and awareness programme about following Covid norms are carried out regularly, officials said. The total number of prisoners in all the three jails of Delhi Prisons as of January 7 was 18,528. Tihar has a maximum of 12,669 inmates, Mandoli 4,018 and Rohini 1,841.
The inoculation status of inmates of Delhi Prisons as of December 31 was, 22,620 have been administered the vaccine of which 15,452 got the first dose and 7,168 got the second shot.