GEORGE TOWN – Now, officials at Covid-19 quarantine centres in Penang have another job on their hands: be on the lookout for guests sneaking in outsiders for sexual trysts.
In one case, the boyfriend of a guest and his three friends were caught after spending the night in one such centre when they stumbled into a security control room during their escape.
To complicate matters, one of the men is a policeman’s son. They were detained and charged with trespassing into an infectious disease area.
Officials shared with The Vibes the challenges they faced managing quarantine centres set up last June to help the health authorities deal with the arrival of travellers from abroad.
In Penang, two hotels and three college hostels have been converted into quarantine centres to accommodate those returning from abroad.
Most are travelling due to family, education, business, and government duties, as well as for bereavement, such as a woman who flew from the UK to attend her mother’s funeral in Kedah.
The quarantine centres have three levels of inspections to ensure guests abide by the 14-day containment rules for those returning from high-risk countries, 10 days for travellers from mid-level risk nations and seven days for those who test for the virus at the point of departure, said the officials.
In the entrance, the police have a detachment posted to inspect visitors and provide perimeter security, while inside, the security and safety operations are conducted by public health inspectors, Civil Defence Force, People’s Volunteer Corps and the host centre’s managers.
For those untested, they will be subjected to tests and if positive, they are transferred to low-risk quarantine centres or hospitals treating Covid-19 cases.
“We have noticed that some are finding it hard to stay in quarantine, often seeking to satisfy their food cravings. Some also want alcohol (which is not allowed) and the need to smoke is intense for some.”
There were also cases of guests who use ride-sharing services to smuggle contraband items. – The Vibes, May 27, 2021
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