18 inmates, six officials test positive for COVID-19 at Vizag Central Prison
By Newsmeter Network Published on 31 July 2020 4:53 AM GMT
Visakhapatnam: Eighteen inmates and six officials of the Central Prison Vizag were tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.
This followed the death of murder convict Mallela Om Prakash at KG Hospital in Vizag city a few days ago. The 53-year-old prisoner tested positive for Covid-19 after his death.
He was serving life imprisonment for killing Julakanti Srinivasa Reddy alias Moddu Srinu, who was accused in the TDP MLA Paritala Ravi's murder case.
Superintendent of Central Prison, Vizag, S Rahul said soon after Om Prakash tested positive, the officials of the medical and health department conducted COVID-19 tests on 282 prisoners including those who had come in contact with the deceased.
Rahul said 400 staff members of the prison and their families were tested. A total of 24 prisoners and staff members were tested positive.
As precautionary measures, the entire jail premises have been sanitized with disinfectants.
Authorities have been distributing vitamin C and multivitamin tablets among the prisoners to boost immunity. Besides, warm water and nutritious food are also provided to the inmates.
Due care is being taken of the prisoners who are above 50 years of age and have comorbidities.
Jail superintendent said the police will decide about the location for quarantining the inmates.
