Covid-19 in Maharashtra: 130 of 272 inmates test positive in Osmanabad jail

PUNE: A sudden spike in Covid cases has been reported in the Osmanabad district jail since May 16 with 130 of the 272 inmates testing positive even though the number of Covid-19 cases has declined in the state jails and 19 smaller jails have become free of the infection.
Others who tested positive in the Osmanabad district jail are three women inmates and as many jail officials.

The Covid situation continues to remain grim in eight districts of Marathwada region as the region recorded the highest spike of 5,189 positive cases and 140 fatalities.Osmanabad district registered 712 cases and eight deaths.
“The Osmanabad jail inmates have tested positive for Covid-19 virus because of the surge in the number of cases reported in the eight districts of Marathwada region,” additional director general (prisons) Sunil Ramanand told TOI on Saturday.
Ramanand said, "The local administration is offering treatment to inmates in civil hospitals and Covid care centres. We have taken a series of measures to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus among the inmates and jail staffers. The situation has slowly started improving."
‘The state public health department has started the process of filling pending vacancies for the post of doctors in state jails.We will soon have more doctors who will offer medical treatment to inmates/jailstaffers once their appointments are finalised in the days to come,” Ramanand added.
Osmanabad jail superintendent Eknath Shinde told TOI, "The jail is located in the midst of Osmanabad city, which is affected due to the rise in Covid-19 virus cases. Our three staffers have tested positive because they travel out of jail for official work. The inmates have tested positive because they had come in close contact with the staffers. After we subjected 272 inmates to Covid tests, 130 of them tested positive."
Shinde said, “We have quarantined our staffers in a hostel. We have instructed our other staffers residing in official quarters to report for duty in jail. Inmates testing positive have been shifted to isolation yard, hosptials, Covid care centres and hostel. The local municipal corporation is sanitising the jail premises thrice a week. Our medical team is counselling inmates to follow Covid-19 norms to contain the spread of the virus.”
“We have helped 26 inmates, including a woman testing positive, in seeking interim bail from the Osmanabad district sessions court. The inmates have been home quarantined,” he added.