Surge in Covid cases: Minister takes stock of arrangements at Central Jail

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 8

Jail Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Saturday visited Amritsar Central Jail to oversee the arrangements inside jail complex in view of the rapid surge in the novel coronavirus cases in the country.

He said the government was making adequate arrangements to safeguard the jail inmates and to thwart any chances of Covid spread among them. He said that all employees posted in the jail were vaccinated while 462 prisoners above 45 years were also administrated the vaccine. He said 30 per cent of them had got their second dose of vaccine. He said all inmates would be vaccinated.

Randhawa said that the government was also providing oximeters and medicine kits under Mission Fateh inside the jails across Punjab. He also visited the kitchen and food being prepared for the prisoners and expressed his satisfaction. He said the government had asked the concerned authorities for providing 50 oximeteres in central jails and 15 oximeters in smaller jails.

Jail Superintendent Arshdeep Singh informed the minister that the drug addict prisoners were being treated at the de-addiction centre inside the jail. He said the women inmates were shifted to Malerkotla sub-jail which was dedicated for the women prisoners who were found Covid positive. He said social distancing besides vaccination, wearing masks and sanitisation was also ensured in the barracks.

Earlier, jail staff presented guard of honor to the minister. Police Commissioner Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill and other administrative officials also accompanied him.