Allot facilities for Covid-19+ prisoners, states told

The Centre has asked all states to 'earmark appropriate health facilities' for prison inmates who test positive for coronavirus and cannot be treated at a hospital within the jail premises. The directives were part of the measures suggested by the Union home ministry in the wake of a surge in Covid-19 cases, starting early this month.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court allowed journalist Siddique Kappan's lodged at Mathura jail to be shifted to Delhi for treatment. Earlier, Tihar Jail authorities reported that gangster Chhota Rajan, 61 was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after he tested Covid-19 positive. Rajan is facing trial in as many as 70 cases of extortion and murder after his deportation from Bali in Indonesia. Besides Rajan, gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, lodged at a UP jail, tested Covid-19 positive.

“Regular and periodic health screening of prisoners aged over 60 and those with co-morbidities to be ensured, including checking of temperature and oxygen level on a regular basis,” said the home ministry letter. “Separate wards for senior citizens to be provided to the extent possible and all newly admitted individuals should be thoroughly screened for fever and respiratory tract symptoms with particular attention to those with comorbidities.” The home ministry also directed the correctional and state jail authorities to follow the guidelines issued by the health ministry for handling arrested persons, detainees and inmates during the pandemic.