KATMANDU: As many as 231 inmates across the country have been infected with COVID-19.

The infection cases were from more than 800 inmates tested for the virus. Of the infected, 86 got over the infection and 137 are receiving treatment, according to the Department of Prison Management.

Five prisoners at the central prison, Sundhara have died and three have been released after serving their jail term, said the Department’s information officer Devshri Sapkota, adding that the released inmates would be kept in home-isolation.

Of the 71 prisons across the country, 11 have witnessed the infection with the Siraha district prison recording highest cases.

Of 110 prisoners who were tested for the virus, 86 got infected with 81 undergoing treatment, said Sapkota. Sunsari prison had 11 infection cases and the central prison, Sundhara 65, of which 31 were free of the virus and 29 are receiving treatment, he said. Of swabs of 108 inmates tested for coronavirus at the Lalitpur district prison, two contracted the infection.

Following increasing infection cases in prisoners around the country, the Supreme Court directed the concerned authority to provide treatment for the infected and release those at high risk of the virus as per laws.

The process has begun to collect necessary details to implement the apex court’s verdict in this regard, Sapkota said.

Preparations were underway to submit a report in this regard after going through the due process to the government through the Ministry of Home Affairs, he said.