Jail staff stop going home

LAHORE:To contain the spread of the coronavirus, jail staff have stopped going home, The News learnt. To combat the coronavirus on a war-footing, the jail staff of 41 prisons have been trained by health chief executive officers (CEOs). On the direction of Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Home Department, government of Punjab, Momin Agha, quarantine facilities have been established in prisons across the province by Zeeshan Shabir Rana, Additional Secretary Prisons.

He said all new prisoners had been kept in isolation at quarantine wards so that they could not mix up with old inmates. “If symptoms appear or a case is confirmed, the prisoner will be shifted to the nearest district headquarter hospital on an emergency basis. After completion of the isolation period they would be shifted to barracks. Medical staff of prisons also launched awareness for the welfare of prisoners. Facilities of sanitisations have been provided to all prisoners,” he added.

The additional secretary said that all types of work in jail industries had been suspended. “Hygiene of the prisoners working in jail kitchens has been ensured by providing them mask, sanitizers and disinfectant materials. Furthermore, leave of jails medical and paramedical staff have been immediately cancelled,” he added.

According to Rana, a control room at the Inspectorate of Prisons had been established to monitor and share the situation. Vacant posts of medical officers are being filled with the coordination of the deputy commissioners concerned. Cases of prisoners in petty offences are being pleaded with districts and session judges concerned so that they could be released or bailed, he concluded.