107 inmates, two prison officers contract Covid-19

A total of 107 inmates and two prison officers have so far been infected with Covid-19, Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya said today.

He told media that 90 female remandees and 17 male inmates were among the infected inmates and added 199 cases were from Welikada Prison while seven cases had been reported from the Old Bogambara prison. One case has also been reported from the Matara Prison.

"The inmates are being treated at the Welikanda Hospital while two prisons officers are being treated at the IDH," Upuldeniya said.

“A total of six positive cases was firstly reported from the Welikada prison and Female Ward on October 5,' he added.

When asked as to how they contracted the virus, Upuldeniya said it was yet to be ascertained by health officials how they were infected with the virus

Meanwhile, he said they were arranging the Pallansena Prison and Prison Hospital to be used in case of an emergency situation.

"A total of over 6,000 PCR tests have been so far carried out in the Prison located islandwide," Upuldeniya added. (Sheain Fernandopulle)