GEORGE TOWN, Oct 8 — The Penang Remand Prison has set up a special treatment centre to treat inmates tested positive for Covid-19 and as part of its preparations to face any possibility including if more people get infected with the disease.
Its director Mohamed Jusoh Ismail said the treatment centre was set up in collaboration with the Health Ministry and the number of inmates or staff infected with Covid-19 remained still under control.
“Besides the treatment centre, there is also a clinic at the prison which is equipped with doctors and Health Ministry staff. The prison is prepared to face any eventuality.
“The total number of Covid-19 positive cases involving inmates and prison staff will be announced by the ministry as I don’t have the authority to do so,” he told Bernama today.
Mohamed Jusoh said the six people who had been infected with Covid-19 at the Penang Remand Prison were currently receiving treatment at the Penang Hospital.
He said so far, the situation at the prison is under control and the inmates did not show any symptoms adding that screening tests would continue to be conducted on the inmates with priority given to senior citizens and those with diseases.
Mohamed Jusoh added that there has been no movement of inmates in and out of the prison unless there is an urgent need but with strict compliance with the standard operating procedures set.
“Sanitisation exercise has also been conducted by the Health Ministry staff to curb further spread of Covid-19 at the prison,” he said.
Mohamed Jusoh said for the moment, new inmates are temporarily placed at the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) camp.
Meanwhile, a Bernama check at the prison found that Health Ministry staff were seen entering the premises at 9am.
Yesterday, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said a new cluster, namely the Penjara Reman Cluster has been detected at the prison involving seven Covid-19 positive cases including an inmate who died on October 5.
— Bernama
