PANJIM: COVID-19 cases in State’s biggest jail at Colvale have come back to haunt the authorities as four cases have been detected in the past couple of days. Two staff, reportedly from the Mess area; and two inmates have tested positive after showing signs of a second COVID-19 wave.
The Colvale Correctional Home had been reporting COVID-19 cases even as the jail officials state every precaution is undertaken to ensure the safety of hundreds of inmates and staff, working in shifts. However, the second wave of the deadly COVID-19 virus has left the concerned within the jail premises perplexed. Sources state that a doctor is himself positive for the virus.
“It’s a scary situation although unavoidable because the entire State is reeling under crisis. Precaution is the only way and if possible reducing the burden on the staff through various measures approved by higher-ups,” said an official.
The Jail premises has a quarantine centre wherein new prisoners are accommodated for a minimum of 14 days, only to be put back in the Cell. The authorities are also concerned that at least 30-50 prisoners are kept in each cell depending on the capacity.
The Jail had reported quite a few cases last year even as some prisoners were allowed to be released on furlough following Supreme Court’s directives. After the situation subsided, these prisoners were asked to report back to the jail. The officials and inmates, however, need the premises to be sanitised on a regular basis besides strictly following appropriate behaviour.
