Covid-positive | SabrangIndia

Delhi HC grants bail to Tihar inmate who tested Covid positive, lost eye due to complications

Sat, 05 Jun 2021 06:12:33 +0000

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A Tihar inmate has been granted bail on grounds that she tested positive for Covid-19 in custody and has ostensibly lost her eye due to post complications.

Justice Mukta Gupta ordered her release on interim bail till July 12 on furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs. 25,000 with one surety bond of the like amount subject to the satisfaction of the learned Trial Court/Duty Magistrate.

The medical report received from Tihar Central Jail indicated that she complained of “generalised weakness” on April 28, and eventually tested positive for Covid-19. Thereafter she was kept in the isolation ward. However, after developing breathing issues, she was sent to the Burari Hospital on April 30, and thereafter to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital on the same day for “difficulty in breathing and decreased oxygen saturation.”

She was admitted in GTB Hospital from April 30 to May 10 and was discharged with diagnosis of “Diabetes Mellitus II/ Hypertension/ Covid (Moderate)/ Bilateral Pneumonia/ Lower Respiratory Tract infection.” After discharge, she was kept in isolation for 7 days and finally tested negative on May 17.

During isolation, she complained of decreased vision in the right eye. On May 17, she was sent to Safdarjung Hospital, Ophthalmology Department where she was advised MRI of her brain and orbit, besides an RT-PCR test for Covid-19.

She tested negative and on May 22, her MRI scan was conducted at Safdarjung Hospital. The court noted, “Though there are no findings suggestive of Mucormycosis (Black Fungus) in MRI, however the MRI report is suggestive of right frontal bone Osteoma and diffuse frontal & parietal predominant cerebral atrophy.”

Considering the findings of the MRI report and that she would need specialised treatment, the Single-judge Bench granted her bail. The petitioner inmate has been booked under Indian Penal Code sections of 420 (cheating), 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant, or by banker, merchant or agent), 506 (criminal intimidation), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).

On May 5, the Delhi High Court had stressed upon the necessity of vaccination considering the density of jail premises and directed the Jail Superintendent to give proper counselling to inmates for receiving the vaccine. It had ordered that in the absence of Aadhaar or PAN Card, Prison ID number may be used and in absence of mobile number of the inmate, number of a next of kin may be used. The jail authorities ensured the court that all in the 45+ age group will be inoculated by May 31.

On the issue of vaccination of the 18-44 age group, the jail had not received vaccines so the court directed the Jail Superintendent to make a request within 2 days to the Disaster Management Office (West) which shall be forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs. “The request of the Jail Superintendent shall be considered expeditiously, and the requisite vaccines shall be supplied within a period of 15-30 days, for the purpose of vaccination of the said group of 279 inmates who belong to the 18-44 age group,” said the court.

In the next date of hearing, the court perused the status report filed by the jail authorities and stated that some positive steps were taken, but some more steps were left to be taken in order to improve jail conditions. This matter has been listed for hearing on July 16.

The bail order may be read here:

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Bhima Koregaon case: 3 accused test Covid positive at Taloja jail

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 11:03:29 +0000

Image Courtesy:dnaindia.com

After Father Stan Swamy tested positive for Covid-19 at Holy Family Hospital, an RT-PCR test drive was conducted at Taloja jail for all inmates. The Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon case accused Mahesh Raut, Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor have tested positive.

According to Republican Panthers Jatiya Antachi Chalwal activist Harshali Potdar, who was also questioned by the NIA in the Bhima Koregaon matter, the three accused persons have been quarantined in a very congested room in the Central jail. Despite testing positive, neither medical treatment of any kind has started, nor they have been given a medical diet to follow.

None of the three had been immunised against Covid-19. Activist Mahesh Raut has been suffering from cold, fever, cough, and weakness for more than a week. In a virtual press conference held on May 15, Mahesh Raut’s sister Monali, had complained about the inhuman conditions in jail and how she was not allowed to send a parcel of thermometer and oximeter to Taloja.

Superintendent of Taloja Central Jail told The Hindu that co-accused Vernon Gonsalves, Sudhir Dhawale, Surendra Gadling, Arun Ferreira, Anand Teltumbde, Rona Wilson and Gautam Navlakha have tested negative.

84-year-old Father Stan, another co accused in the case, is admitted at Holy Family Hospital for a period of two weeks for treatment of his ailments after he suffered major tremors due to his advanced Parkinson’s disease. He also tested positive for Covid-19 and according to an Indian Express report, he is in the ICU, on oxygen support.

Professor Hany Babu has also tested positive for Covid-19 and is currently undergoing treatment at Breach Candy Hospital for a severe eye infection. Dr. Varavara Rao, the only Bhima Koregaon accused is out on temporary medical bail. He had contracted Covid last year.

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Shocking! Over 9,000 children test Covid-positive in May in Ahmednagar

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 10:59:50 +0000

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At least 9,000 children tested Covid-positive in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra in May, 2021 although 95 percent of the cases were asymptomatic, reported The Tribune.

PTI reports estimated 9,928 cases out of a total of 86,182 cases were of children below 18 years, as per District Collector Rajendra Bhosale on June 1. Moreover, these cases account for about 11.5 percent of all cases reported last month.

While over 6,000 children were in the 11 to 18 years age group, around 3,000 were in the 1 to 10 years age group. A few children, yet to complete a year of life, also tested positive for Covid-19. However, regardless of the break-up Bhosale told news organisations that most children did not face danger as many were asymptomatic. Instead, he spoke of the report as a warning of a possible third wave of Covid-19 and asked parents to take care of their children.

Similarly, Ahmednagar’s paediatric task force member Dr Sachin Solat said that of the 350-370 patients admitted in the district’s civil hospital only five to six were children. In fact, 97 Covid-positive minors were reported on May 31 out of 1,000 new Covid-19 cases.

Nonetheless, a task force comprising 10 senior paediatricians has been formed in Ahmednagar to prepare against an oncoming third wave of the Coronavirus. A State Paediatric Task Force meeting is to take place on June 1 to discuss the Ahmednagar incident further. Meanwhile, Solat has called for a 100-bed facility equipped with oxygen and ICUs at the local hospital.

As of May 28, the district reported 2,58,195 positive cases and 3,086 Covid-deaths on its website. While there is no explanation for the spread of the virus among over 9,000 children, there is speculation that the minors are infected by Covid-positive adults around them.

Earlier, SabrangIndia talked to Save The Children organisation that recommended temporary care and support safe spaces for children whose parents/guardians are hospitalised or quarantined to save them from the onslaught of the third wave.

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