Birsa Munda Central Prison, where 40 inmates and 14 staffers tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday, will henceforth function as a containment zone to prevent any further spread of the virus, the decision likely to be extended to other jails of the state.

Birsa jail superintendent Hamid Akthar told the media that staffers who were inside the jail premises would continue to stay in, while those who are posted for outside duty would not be able to come in.

“Till further notice, besides inmates, even staff members who are posted inside for duty will not be allowed to go out. They shall stay in the barracks/quarters in the jail premises while requirement of food and other things will be taken care of,” he said.

While a proper SOP is yet to be officially notified, jail IG Birendra Bhushan said that a similar practice would be introduced in all other jails. “It will be a kind of lockdown in jails to prevent infection,” he said, adding that they are also considering providing vitamin C tablets and other immunity boosters to everyone inside the jail.

A jail administration source said that efforts were on to identify vulnerable/suspected inmates in all state prisons and quarantine them. “Even within cells, we are trying to explore ways to minimise crowding wherever possible,” he said, adding that use of masks, sanitisers for all, which had already been made compulsory, would be re-enforced.

“Also, there are many inmates and staffers who consume tobacco (khaini/gutka). This needs to be curbed. We are asking all to prevent from spitting callously,” said an official.

As many as 40 inmates and 14 staff members tested positive for Covid-19 in Birsa centra jail on Tuesday, but authorities estimate that as many as 100 may be infected in jails across the state. Besides the one in Ranchi, there are four other central jails in East Singbhum, Hazaribagh, Dumka and Daltonganj, in addition to over a dozen divisional and sub-divisional jails.