Rajahmundry: The prisons department is planning to set up special jails for Covid-positive inmates to check the spread of the virus to other prisoners. The special Covid-19 jails would be set up in every district of the state.
With the virus feared to be spreading through remand prisoners, tests would be now conducted on all such prisoners as well as newcomers before they enter the jails, particularly the big ones which house thousands of prisoners.
I Srinivasa Rao, DIG (prisons) for coastal region, said 13 sub-jails would be converted into special Covid-19 jails. “The inmates of these sub-jails would be shifted to other prisons after taking permission from the judiciary. Covid-19 tests would be conducted in the special jails for remand prisoners and new inmates and they would be shifted to other prisons if they test negative,” he said, adding that only those who test positive would be shifted to the special Covid-19 jails.
The sub-jails in Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Anakapalle, Kakinada, Bhimavaram, Machilipatnam, Narasaraopet, Prodduturu, Dhone (Kurnool), Gooty (Anantapur), Pileru (Chittoor), Kavali (Nellore) and Markapur (Prakasam) will be converted into special Covid-19 jails.
About 15 remand prisoners have tested positive in the coastal region so far, he informed. “All staff deployed in the special Covid-19 jails would be provided with PPE kits, masks, gloves and other required equipment. The special jails are likely to be ready by the end of this week. After obtaining permission from the judiciary, the inmates would be shifted to other prisons. Only male prisoners will be admitted into the special jails,” Rao added.