The count of coronavirus infected prisoners at Birsa Munda Jail reached triple digits on Saturday as at least 73 more jail inmates were found to be Covid positive, prison officials told The Telegraph Online.

“As many as 105 prisoners at Birsa Munda Jail have been infected by the virus. All of them are in isolation within the jail premises,” said IG, Prison, Birendra Bhushan.

On August 4, as many as 40 prisoners and 14 staff at Jharkhand's largest jail tested positive for Covid-19. At least 200 more jail inmates were tested on the basis of contact tracing after that, officials said. “All the 73 found infected on Saturday were tested on the basis of contact tracing of prisoners who were found infected earlier,” said Bhushan.

Prison authorities have supplied prophylaxis, zinc, vitamin C and vitamin D tablets in sufficient quantity to the jail for treatment of infected patients. At least five doctors, including two MDs, are treating patients at the jail, which can accommodate around 2,000 inmates.

Bhushan said the situation was particularly alarming in Birsa Munda Jail, while there were negligible cases of Covid infection in other jails of Jharkhand. Besides Ranchi, Jharkhand has four other central jails in Palamau, Hazaribagh, Dumka and East Singbhum. Additionally, there are over two dozen divisional and sub-divisional jails.

Many high-profile political prisoners, including RJD chief Lalu Prasad, have been kept in Birsa Munda Jail in the past. While Lalu has been shifted to the director's bungalow at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), at least two MLAs serving their terms at the jail have tested positive.

In a bid to prevent further spread of the virus among jail inmates and staff, the jail administration has prohibited unauthorised entry and exit in Birsa Munda Jail, officials said. Prison authorities have also clamped a restriction on meetings of prisoners and visitors, sources said.

Jail authorities have begun to spread awareness about the coronavirus and its impact among prisoners. Prisoners are also being counselled in order to help them cope with the fear of Covid-19, jail officials said. “We are providing healthy food and immunity boosters to prisoners during this period,” said Bhushan.