New Delhi: Even as Delhi prepares to further open up activities in light of the continuously dipping Covid-19 cases, authorities here have said that over 11,000 inmates across Delhi's three jails have been vaccinated against the virus, with the Prisons Department saying that as on Friday, 1,710 Tihar jail inmates aged above 45 and 6,328 below the age of 45 years have been given COVID-19 vaccine.
Similarly in Rohini jail, 172 inmates above 45 years and 600 below that age were administered the vaccine while in Mandoli jail, 483 inmates aged above 45 and 2,232 below it have been inoculated, according to the data.
The prisons department launched a Covid vaccination drive for the inmates in the 45-plus age category on March 18, while the inoculation of prisoners in the 18-44 age group began on May 18.
Since March, around 383 coronavirus cases have been reported among the inmates of the three jails and eight of them have succumbed to the infection, officials said, adding 225 prison staff have been infected with Covid so far.
However, even as the Centre fumbled with the vaccination policy in the first few months, the vaccine shortage in the city had resulted in the drive slowing down in jails. Significantly, Delhi's prisons are already beyond full capacity — even after de-congestion ordered by the Supreme Court.
Covid-appropriate behaviour, including social distancing, among the inmates is being strictly followed, a senior jail official said.
"This year, the process of releasing inmates started from the second week of May. A total of 3,442 undertrial prisoners were released on interim bail and 845 convicts were released on emergency parole from the prisons," they said.
These include inmates who were released last year and then surrendered with no adverse report, and also new prisoners who were eligible for such interim bail or emergency parole in view of the pandemic, under the criteria laid down by a high-powered committee, an official said.
Last year, around 5,500 undertrial prisoners and 1,184 convicts were released on interim bail and emergency parole from the three jails
during the coronavirus lockdown.
The first COVID-19 case was reported in Rohini jail on May 13 last year. Two Covid positive inmates of Mandoli jail — both senior citizens — had died on June 15 and July 4 last year.
Officials said ever since the outbreak of the pandemic in March last year, the prisons department has remained vigilant and instructed its staff to not only maintain hygiene and social distancing among themselves but also spread awareness about the infection among the inmates in the three jail complexes.