Uttar Pradesh: Two dozen prisoners in Mathura district jail test positive for Covid-19

AGRA: At least 500 prisoners in

Mathura district jail

were quarantined in their barracks on Saturday after 24 prisoners in the jail and the deputy jailor tested positive for

Covid-19

in the last 48 hours. The jail is being sanitised by the district administration.

Dr Bhudev

told TOI that 15 prisoners had tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday and 9 others had tested till last night. He said, "sample testing is going on and all prisoners will be tested for Covid 19."

When contacted, senior superintendent of Mathura district jail,

Shailendra Maitreya

, said, even after taking precautions, prisoners got infected with Covid-19. "Some staff members coming to the jail from outside and food products are also being delivered in the jail and that could be the source of infection but we are taking care of everyone.Two separate barracks have been formed to put

Covid positive patients

who are asymptomatic as everyone can’t be sent to the medical facility."

The overcrowded district prison has 1,516 prisoners including 96 women prisoners against the capacity of 554.

Dr Kafeel Khan

who was booked under NSA by UP administration is also lodged in the same jail and his test for Covid-19 will also be conducted, said a senior jail official.

Till now, 1831 persons have tested positive for Covid-19 in the district and of these 43 have succumbed to the disease. Health officials said as of now, only 564 cases are active.

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