183 inmates of Diphu Jail in Assam test positive for coronavirus

Guwahati: Amid rising concerns over the safety of jail inmates in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the Diphu district jail in Assam's Karbi Anglong seems to have turned into a virus hotspot, with the number of cases found in the jail nearing the 200-mark.

"There are around 347 inmates in the jail; the bulk of these cases have been detected after a testing drive was conducted within the jail premises. Rapid antigen testing has been going on in Karbi Anglong in lieu with the rest of the state, but they were introduced in the jail on Monday, August 10", Debojit Deori, the Superintendent of Police, Karbi Anglong, told The Sentinel Digital.

Deori further informed that the cumulative cases in the hill district has crossed the 500-case mark. Several men in uniform have also been infected, Deori stated. "As many as 19 policemen had tested positive for the coronavirus; however, only 6 COVID-19 cases are active now. Many have recovered and have returned to work."

So far, at least 183 inmates of the jail have tested positive for the highly infectious disease; more alarmingly still, 80 inmates have tested positive for the virus in the last 24 hours, Deori added.

At the same time, at least 7 employees of Diphu Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) where a bulk of the cases in the Karbi Anglong district are being treated, have also been infected with the dreaded contagion.

Meanwhile, the number of recovered COVID-19 patients in Assam has reached 45,073 with the discharge of 1487 more patients from different hospitals and COVID-19 care centres across the state on Tuesday, August 11.

While Assam has reported a total of 64,406 cases; the active case count in the state now stands at 19,175. Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 deaths in the state has risen to 155.

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