New prisoners to be tested for COVID-19 in Andhra's 'special jails'

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government has designated some prisons as "special jails" during the pandemic. All male prisoners admitted into these newly-designated “special jails” will be subjected to COVID-19 tests and other sanitization protocols prescribed by the government.

If the prisoners test negative, they will be transferred back to their respective jails for confinement. The staff working in the special jails will be provided with special protective gears as prescribed by the government.

The Srikakulam district jail has been designated as the special jail for Srikakulam, while for Vizianagaram, it is the district sub jail. The list of special jails in other districts includes the sub jail in Anakapalli for Visakhapatnam; Kakinada special sub jail for East Godavari; for West Godavari, special sub-jail Bhimavaram; for Krishna, the Machilipatnam special sub jail; for Guntur, special sub jail, Narsaraopeta; for YSR district, the sub-jail in Proddatur; for Kurnool, the Dhone sub jail; Ananthapur, special sub jail, Gooty; Chittoor, the Piler sub jail; SPSR Nellore, the Kavali sub-jail; and for Prakasam, the sub-jail in Markapur will serve as the special jail.

The director-general of police, Andhra Pradesh, has been instructed to provide security at these prisons so as to prevent any prisoner from escaping during transportation to and from the special jails. The DGP will also be responsible for shifting the prisoners to their respective jails once they test negative.

He has also been instructed to provide escort for every prisoner who tests positive for COVID-19 and shift him to the COVID-19 hospitals.