Covid-19 screening restarts in Adiyala Jail

Over 150 staffers tested in LHC’s Rawalpindi Bench

RAWALPINDI: Health authorities have again started coronavirus screening of prisoners and staff of Adiyala Jail.

Coronavirus sampling has been started for the second time in the Rawalpindi Central Prison, according to District Health Officer Dr Naveed Ahmed.

During the earlier check, no prisoner or staff member was found infected with Covid-19. However, the authorities have restarted the screening process as a safety precaution, he said. In case any prisoners were found suffering from the virus, they would be isolated in jail.

Prison, being a closed environment, had greater chances of spread of any epidemic. With dozens of people housed in single quarters, the overcrowded Adiyala Jail could become hotbed for viral outbreak.

Meanwhile, DHO said that health department was also screening staff of the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench for Covid-19. So far swab samples of 150 court officials have been obtained, Dr Ahmed said.

He urged the people to follow the coronavirus SOPs. Dr Ahmed asked the citizens not to leave their homes unnecessarily and in case of leaving the house, must strictly adhere to the SOPs.

50 cops under treatment for Covid-19

The number of police officers infected with coronavirus has risen to 50 across the Rawalpindi division. The affected law enforcement personnel have been playing their role as frontline workers in preventing the spread of the deadly virus. DSP City Rawalpindi Chaudhry Ather Ali also tested positive for the corona test.

Police were also deployed at quarantine centres and hospitals set up inside and outside the city. Police were directed to ensure law and order during the lockdown as well as limit people affected with the virus to their homes and streets.

Nearly 50 police officers and personnel across the division have now been confirmed to have contracted coronavirus. According to DSP Ali, cases were coming up in Rawalpindi among the police officers and personnel who were serving in hospitals or quarantine centres.

Similarly, a wireless operator who was stationed at Kandol Har was also among those who succumbed to the pandemic.

The senior police officer said that 34 police officers and jawans were battling with Covid-19 in Rawalpindi district including a DSP, four SHOs and others. Similarly, there are 11 police officers in Jhelum district, four in Attock district and one in Chakwal were under treatment.

Coronavirus test of police was underway to trace, test and quarantine the patients.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2020.