On Wednesday, 59 prisoners in Trivandrum's Poojappura Central Jail, tested positive for COVID-19. This large number of prisoners undergone the test after a 71-year-old remand prisoner who was in the same prison tested positive for the virus on August 10. The 71-year-old prisoner, who got the virus through contact with a visitor, fainted inside the jail. Following which underwent COVID test here and was declared positive.

The ones who tested positive for COVID-19 will be treated in a special block created within the jail premises. As there is a growing concern over the spread of the virus at the jail, the jail authorities said that the samples of all 970 prisoners and 300-odd employees at the Central prison will be collected soon.

This 'super cluster' in the jail has created panic among the public, as food packets branded as 'Freedom Chappatis' prepared by convicts are popular in the capital city. However, it is said that the prisoners who are currently tested positive for the deadly virus were not a part of the making of food packets.