Prison dept bans meeting of inmates with relatives
Though he (male Italian patient) is clear of coronavirus, we have shifted him to another ICU as he still needs support. His lungs are compromised because he is a smoker and he will take time to recover
DR DS MEENA , SMS hospital medical superintendent
that he would continue his treatment in the private set-up,” he said.
Meanwhile, the board of doctors who are treating the coronavirus patients met on Tuesday to review the condition of the 24-year-old.
Dr Meena said the doctors decided to put him on the same combination drugs as used for the other patients.
“Though his symptoms are mild, the doctors felt that the patient is young and they should not take chances. So, they decided to put him on the same combination drugs as used for the other patients,” he said.
Rajasthan has four coronavirus positive cases. Total 469 samples have been tested, of which 458 turned negative and seven are under process. There are 1,223 persons under observation in the state, while 164 symptomatic persons are in hospitals. A total of 1,081 persons are in home isolation.
JAIPUR/KOTA: In order to prevent novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the prisons department has put a ban on meeting of inmates with their family members for a week, along with several other steps. The department has made isolation wards in jail hospitals for suspected coronavirus patients.
Director general of jails NRK Reddy said that there are around 144 prisons in Rajasthan, in which there are 21,000 inmates. This is around 97% of the capacity.
“So far we have not come across any Covid-19 patient in jails but we have taken several measures to prevent it,” he said.
Deputy inspector general (DIG), prisons, Vikas Kumar said that as a precautionary measure, the director general of the department has i ssued orders banning meetings for a week. “As per the orders, the inmates will not be allowed to meet visitors for next seven days. There are probabilities of inmates getting affected if they came in contact with visitors,” he said.
The prisons department is also doing 100% screening of the new inmates and is interviewing them to know their travel history. “For last seven days, we have started doing this. The new inmate category includes those who have been lodged inside jail in a new case and second is those who have came from hearing. For us they also become new as they have come from outside. The doctors are checking their temperature, cold and cough symptoms. We are also obtaining their travel history,” added Kumar.
The department has also created two new wards and one isolation wards. Every inmate coming from outside is initially been kept in the new ward where he is kept under observation for three days and after clearance, sent to their normal wards. Also, the isolation ward is been kept for suspects.
“The suspects would be kept in isolation for seven days and would be given treatment by the doctors in jail. And on the basis of their report further course of action would be taken,” said the DIG prisons.
For three days, two dozen inmates lodged in the Jaipur jail are preparing “self-reliant masks”. “The female inmates have been sanctioned a budget of Rs 4 lakh to make masks. So far they have made 2,000 masks, which are made up of processed cotton cloth. They have been approved by the laboratories too. Still, we are working to improve their quality and the production would be increased in the coming times,” added Kumar.
The masks have been distributed to prisons staff and the inmates who have been given different kind of duties. In coming days the masks would be distributed to all inmates, the DIG said.
Three to four times cleaning per day is been done across sensitive areas like toilets, phones and kiosks. All inmates are been aware about the symptoms of Covid-19 and have been asked to ensure that they take necessary measures. Every inmate is also been asked to go for a sun bath between 10am and noon with their belonging as sunlight kills bacteria and there are less chances of spread of infection.
Superintendent of the Kota Central Jail Suman Maliwal said t hat awareness messages through the Jail FM radio station, called Jailwani, are also being circulated among inmates.
Also masks have been given to 50% inmates for safety from Covid-19 and all inmates will be given masks within 24 hours, she said.