Thiruvananthapuram: 239 prison inmates at Poojapura test Covid positive

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As many as 239 out of the 1,000-odd inmates of central prison at Poojapura have tested positive for Covid. However, the prison authorities assured that there was no need for panic and necessary steps had been taken to contain the spread of the virus within the prison walls.
Central prison superintendent Nirmalanandan Nair said that Covid-positive cases among the inmates were detected in tests conducted by the district health staff from Wednesday to Friday.The inmates who tested positive have been isolated immediately. None of them have severe symptoms. In fact, most of them are asymptomatic while some have minor symptoms.
"We contacted the DMO and requested to carry out tests among the inmates after the number of cases in the district rose alarmingly high," said the superintendent. Four out of 12 prison blocks in the central prison were converted into isolation blocks to keep those who tested positive.
The DMO has also granted the service of two male nurses for the central prison to attend to the Covid-positive inmates. This was after the superintendent requested for a medical team for the prison.
"The medical team of the prison comprises two doctors, which we felt was insufficient to attend to the 239 inmates who tested positive. Since it was not practical to provide a medical team, the DMO provided us with two nurses," the superintendent added.