COVID-19: Delhi Prisons Department Asks Inmates Not To Gather At One Place And Wash Hands Regularly

New Delhi: In view of rising Covid cases in the national capital, the Delhi prisons department has instructed jail inmates not to gather at one place and wash hands regularly, officials said on Wednesday (April 19). A senior official said at present, there are five active COVID cases in Tihar jail and highlighted that anyone who develops coronavirus symptoms like fever or cold has to undergo a rapid antigen test.

We have issued general instructions to the inmates. They have been instructed not to gather at a place and wash their hands regularly. The inmates who show the symptoms of fever and cold get tested inside the prisons. If they test positive for Covid, they are kept isolated at the central hospital in jail number 3 where we admit them for 10 to 12 days, he said. We also undertake contact racing of infected inmates. Security staff who might have come in contact with them as well as their cellmates are also tested, the officer said.

The official said the five active Covid cases in Tihar jail tested positive around 10 days ago and were admitted to the central hospital, which comprises 50 beds.

They are fine and will be discharged soon. Inmates can also be shifted to either DDU or LNJP hospitals, another official said.

Also Read: Over 430 Per Cent Rise In Active Covid Cases In Delhi Since March-End: Data 

If a staff member has a fever or cold, but tests negative for Covid, he is asked to use a mask and take precautions, the official said.

The national capital on Tuesday logged 1,537 fresh COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of 26.54 per cent.

With the new cases, Delhi’s COVID-19 tally has climbed to 20,25,781. Five fresh fatalities have pushed the death toll due to the viral disease to 26,572.

On Monday, Delhi recorded 1,017 fresh Covid cases with a positivity rate of 32.25 per cent, the highest in more than 15 months.

Also Read: COVID-19 Cases In Delhi May Peak In Couple Of Weeks, Says LNJP Hospital Medical Director

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.