355 inmates at Bhimphedi prison test positive for COVID-19

KATHMANDU, July 30: As many as 355 prisoners tested positive for COVID-19 in the prison at Bhimphedi Rural Municipality of Makwanpur district. 

According to Narayan Poudel, chief of the prison, of the 169 inmates kept in Block ‘A’ and Block ‘B’, who were tested through the antigen method, all tested positive for the deadly infection. 

The inmates infected by the virus are being kept on the upper floors of the prison by maintaining the safety guidelines. Likewise, prisoners who have not been infected by COVID-19 are being kept on the lower floor, Poudel said.

Although most of the inmates of the prison were vaccinated with the Covishield vaccine, prisoners from both vaccinated and unvaccinated groups have contracted the deadly virus. 

According to Pranay Kumar Upadhyaya, chief of the district health office, the testing of the Bhimphedi prison inmates was conducted on Wednesday and Thursday after six prisoners from the prison tested positive for COVID-19 while being transferred to Nakkhu Jail.