Chandigarh July 21: Haryana Government has decided to declare one Central Jail and three District Jails in the State as Special Jails (Temporary Jails) for confinement of new male prisoners remanded to judicial custody in Haryana till the receipt of their COVID-19 reports.

While stating this here today, an official spokesman said that Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal has approved a proposal in this regard. These Special Jails would include Central Jail-II, Hisar and District Jails of Faridabad, Karnal and Rewari.

The spokesman said that one Medical Officer each and other para medical staff would be deputed for examination and treatment of prisoners at these special jails. He said that it would be ensured that the Medical Officers and para medical staff are tested for COVID-19 and negative reports obtained before their deputation at these jails. Apart from this, it would also be ensured that testing of prisoners for COVID-19 and submission of reports is done on priority basis, he added.

He said that tests of prisoners would be conducted using RT-PCR instead of rapid test kit at government institutes only. He said that prisoner wards would be established in the COVID-19 dedicated hospitals and every COVID positive prisoner would be admitted and treated in these wards. It would also be ensured that sampling for COVID-19 tests of such prisoners or staff that had been in contact with any COVID positive prisoner/staff is done promptly at the jail itself through a mobile team of Civil Hospital concerned.