Rohini jail admin runs medical tests on 24 people after inmate tests +ve

NEW DELHI: The jail administration has conducted medical tests of 24 people, including officials and inmates after a 28-yearold inmate of Rohini jail was tested positive for the disease, in the first case of Coronavirus in a Delhi prison.

According to officials, the prisoner who was asymptomatic tested positive on Wednesday and was later admitted to Lok Nayak Hospital (LNJP). Five officials and 19 inmates who came in contact with the inmate have been sent to home quarantine. The quarantined persons also don’t have any symptom of COVID-19, the prison officials said.

Director General (Prisons) Sandeep Goel told the Millennium Post: “Yes, one inmate of Rohini jail was found positive. He was in DDU hospital for some intestinal problem for which he was operated on May 10. He was tested for COVID-19 also by the hospital authorities and his result came positive on May 13. After that, he was shifted to LNJP hospital. Jail authorities have put 20 inmates and five staff in isolation and quarantine.”

He further said: “The inmate didn’t have any Corona symptoms and other quarantined persons also don’t have any symptom.”

He was lodged inside the jail around five to six months ago in a robbery and attempt to murder case and used to stay in a barrack with 19 other inmates who have been isolated. This is the first positive case of Coronavirus in a Delhi prison. An official said that he was alright when he went to the hospital on May 10 for treatment.

“How he came in contact with the virus we can’t comment,” the official said, adding the Corona reports of 24 people will come later.

Earlier, three inmates of Tihar Jail were put under quarantine after one of them, a rape accused, was suspected to have come in contact with a Coronavirus-infected person. However, when the accused was tested for the virus, the result came negative, officials said.