All prisoners in State to be screened for COVID-19

Visitors have been banned from meeting the prisoners for the next two weeks, with the only exception of lawyers.

Officials have also been asked to screen all inmates detained in jails, juvenile homes, sub-jails and borstal schools in the State. Officials have asked prison doctors to examine the prisoners with fever, cold or respiratory problems.

A thermal scanner would be installed at the entrance of all prisons to monitor the temperature of the staff and inmates entering the premises.

Prison authorities are setting up a separate tap at the entrance and exit of the campuses for everyone entering and exiting to clean themselves.

Lawyers have been directed to wear masks before interaction with the prisoners and the circular recommends them to avoid any kind of physical contact. The meeting rooms will also be regularly disinfected.

Those serving food for inmates have been asked to ensure personal hygiene and wash hands before serving food. Inmates working outside the premises, such as prison bazaar and fuel stations, have to mandatorily wear face masks. All jail staff on duty have to also wear masks.

Besides, doctors have been asked to modify a ward at the prison hospital as an isolation ward to monitor suspected inmates.

It may be noted that a bench of Supreme Court Chief Justice SA Bobde and L N Rao issued a notice to the Director General, Prison, and Chief Secretary of all States and Union Territories seeking their response by March 20 on steps taken for prevention of COVID-19.