3 convicts in Cuddalore, Tiruchy test positive

All three had come to Puzhal central prison to attend a programme organised by the department, officials said, adding that they were identifying, quarantining and testing those who came in contact with them here and also during travel.

The three who tested positive included two life convicts who are now in Cuddalore Central Prison and one lifer in Tiruchy Central Prison, said an official.

According to sources, they had come to Puzhal Central Prison to attend a jail sponsored programme. Because of the lockdown, the officials were forced to accommodate them in a block in Puzhal jail premises, before being returned to their designated prisons three days ago.

“After reaching their designated prisons, they were quarantined and underwent COVID test. On Tuesday morning, the results showed that they are positive. They have now been admitted to government hospital where they are undergoing treatment,” said a senior prison official.

Stating that all steps were being taken to prevent the virus from spreading further, the official added that all their contacts in Puzhal and also those who interacted with them during transport are also being identified, quarantined and tested.

The State prison department has been taking preventive measures, including quarantining new inmates in separate jail for 14 days, from day one to prevent outbreak of the infection among the inmates.