Guwahati Central Jail declared Containment Zone after inmate tests Covid-19 positive

Guwahati: The Guwahati Central Jail in Assam's capital has been tagged as a 'Containment Zone' and sealed off by authorities after an inmate tested positive on Friday night.

The 19-year-old, originally a resident of the Lower Assam district of Nalbari, has now been shifted to the Mahendra Mohan Chaudhary Hospital (MMCH) in Panbazar for his treatment. "Dispur Police had apprehended this individual on June 1 after it came to light that he was involved in the theft of a motorbike. After his sample was tested positive, he was immediately shifted to hospital for further evaluation and treatment", Munna Prasad Gupta, Guwahati Police Commissioner told The Sentinel Digital.

Gupta also said that 9 police personnel have been quarantined after coming in close proximity to the jail inmate. "There were some who came in touch with the inmate when he was transferred here. Thus, as per protocol, they have been sent into quarantine to prevent an outbreak."

Meanwhile, an area in the Jail has been marked as a Containment Zone by the Kamrup (Metro) district administration. Deputy Commissioner Biswajit Pegu directed the circle officer, Guwahati revenue circle to seal the areas with immediate effect.

The boundaries of the containment zone in Central Jail are as follows:

North: Residence of Hiren Teron and Office of the Coffee Board

South: Adjacent Road to Central Jail

East: SSB Camp and Assam Police Plot

West: Main Gate of Central Jail

This order has been made under the regulations "The Assam Covid-19 Regulations, 2020", "The Disaster Management Act-2005", "The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897", and other relevant laws of the nation. Any violation of this rule will now attract punishment under relevant sections of the law.

Alarmingly, Assam has till date reported 2,115 cases of the virus. Yesterday, 158 fresh cases of the Covid-19 were reported in Assam, while 29 persons were discharged after recovering from the respiratory illness, taking the total number up to 442. The Covid-19 related death toll in the state stands rooted at 4 and the last death was reported on May 19.

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