Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and the district administration are looking to shift ailing RJD chief Lalu Prasad from the paying ward as a precaution since the second and third floors of the building house Covid patients

On Friday, a team led by city SP Saurabh, conducted a security assessment of the RIMS’s director’s bungalow (Kelly’s Building) located within the institute’s premises for the RJD leader who is serving a prison sentence after his conviction in a fodder scam cases.

The SP’s visit came two days after Dr Umesh Prasad of the RIMS medicine department, who has been entrusted by Jharkhand High Court to oversee Lalu’s treatment, requested the hospital authorities that he be shifted to a different place in the wake of a steady rush of Covid-19 patients.

Lalu, who suffers from multiple ailments, has been kept at the first floor of the RIMS paying ward. The second and third floors of the building have been earmarked as dedicated Covid wards which puts Lalu at risk, doctors have said.

The hospital management’s urgency to shift out Lalu is understandable as three of his personal caretakers tested positive for the coronavirus on July 25. Lalu has also been tested, but his reports are negative.

Dr Prasad said he had conveyed his concerns to the authorities. “The onus of ensuring his safety, health-wise is on us and, therefore, we have advised RIMS management to shift him to a proper place now. RIMS and the state government have to take a final call,” he said.

The city SP said the inspection of the director’s bungalow was based on a security audit proposal received from RIMS. “We inspected the venue… Police will ensure proper security wherever the government decides to shift Lalu,” he said.

As the number of Covid cases continued to rise, especially among government employees, the personnel, administrative reforms and Rjbhasha department issued a fresh set of SOPs on Friday

All state government employees have been asked to take prior permission from department heads before leaving their place of positing.

According to the notification, anyone moving out of their place of posting, be it for an emergency, or personal or official reasons after taking leave, or on public holidays, must seek the permission of his/her department head.

“If he/she moves out of the state, then mandatory 14-day quarantine will be a must for them, and the government shall sanction them leave for the said period. While seeking permission to move out of headquarters, he/she must inform in writing about the place of their visit,” the notification read.

The notification also asks officials to inform the government through their departments if anyone from outside the state visits their home. “All such relatives/visitors must be kept in home quarantine by the said employee without coming in direct contact with them,” the order added.