LAHORE: At least four prisoners tested positive for novel COVID-19 at Camp Jail in Lahore.
According to the Camp Jail superintended, as part of protective steps, all the prisoners in the jail were screened for coronavirus, adding that four of the prisoners’ tests came out positive.
The police official further said that one of the prisoner was in critical condition, have been shifted to Lahore’s Mayo Hospital. He said that a report in this regard, has been sent to the Punjab chief minister, Usman Buzdar and home secretary.
However, he added that remaining three prisoners were quarantined in the jail. On March 20, in the wake of coronavirus epidemic, Islamabad High Court had ordered the release of prisoners with minor crimes.
During a hearing of a case pertaining to the release of the prisoners from Adiala Jail, Chief Justice IHC said “The jails of the country are already overfilled. God forbid, what will happen if coronavirus spreads among the prisoners?” The judge had instructed the authorities those who arrested on minor crimes should be released.
Earlier, on Friday, Punjab had reported 18 more cases of novel coronavirus, taking the provincial tally to 1087.
According to the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, 26 districts of the province had recorded COVID-19 coronavirus cases thus far. It added that all confirmed patients were under treatment in isolation wards n different hospitals of the province.
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