Medical certificate must for inmates returning after parole

CHENNAI: Prisoners returning after completing parole will be allowed to enter the jail only on producing a valid medical certificate saying they are not infected with Covid-19, prison officials told subordinates. This precaution has been put in place to prevent spread of the virus in prisons.
The circular, sent to all prison superintendents and zonal heads, directs staff to inform inmates leaving the prisons to get the medical certificate when returning to jail.
About 1,250 inmates are detained in the remand prisoners block at Puzhal prison-II. Of them, at least 630 are detained in the Association Block – V, where a remand prisoner tested positive on Friday. Officials are worried as they are not able to test all the 630 prisoners in the block. Officials have asked staff to keep a tab on those exhibiting symptoms related to coronavirus and isolate them immediately.
Prison officials said at least three infected inmates are detained in Association Block-1 in prison-1, which has been modified into a quarantine ward.
Meanwhile, the additional director-general of prisons Sunil Kumar Singh has asked Siddha practitioner Veera Babu to provide kabasura kudineer to all prisoners.