53 more test positive for COVID-19 in Kerala prison

As many as 53 more persons, including inmates and staff, tested positive for COVID-19 at Thiruvananthapuram's Poojappura Central Prison. With this, the total number of positive cases in the prison has risen to 217.

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala):As many as 53 persons tested positive for COVID-19 at the Poojappura Central Prison in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday.

Besides the prison inmates, the prison doctor and other staff have also contracted the novel coronavirus disease. With this, the total number of persons infected at the Poojappura Central Jail has risen to 217.

Of the 115 persons tested on Saturday, two prison assistants also tested positive. Those who have contracted the disease have been shifted to a separate block in the jail premises. This special block has also been converted into a COVID-19 First Level Treatment Centre.

Last week, a total of 100 persons were tested, 41 of who had contracted COVID-19.

It was decided to test all the inmates after one of the remand prisoners here tested positive for COVID-19. As many as 975 prisoners are housed at Poojappura Central Jail. Prisoners are being tested for COVID-19 in batches of about 100 every day.

The situation raises concerns as there has been a steady rise in the number of persons testing positive for COVID-19 in the daily tests at the prison premises.

Read:191 Uttar Pradesh jail inmates test COVID-19 positive