MELAKA – The admission of prisoners from another state is believed to be among the causes that triggered the Sg Udang Tembok Cluster 2.0, resulting in the implementation of an enhanced movement control order (EMCO) at the Sg Udang Prison for two weeks, starting tomorrow.
State Health and Anti-Drugs Committee chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman said based on investigation and screening by the Melaka Tengah Health Office and state Health Department, the index case involved prisoners brought in from Negri Sembilan last week.
“The (Covid-19) spread in the prison occurred after the admission of 172 inmates from Negri Sembilan and 14 from the A’Famosa Detainees Transit Centre into the Sg Udang Prison several weeks ago.
“Screening found that 81 of the 186 prisoners are Covid-19-positive.”
He said the Health Ministry and Melaka Tengah Health Office conducted an investigation and screening at the quarantine block, namely Block Berkat, to detect close contacts, with 256 individuals tested as of yesterday.
“A total of 76 cases were found as of yesterday, following the investigation and screening, bringing the total number of cases to 157.”
Rahmad said measures have been taken including ensuring no new entry of prisoners from other states, isolations are made in the quarantine block to curb the spread of the virus, and detecting close contacts if there is an increase in infections.
Yesterday, Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the Sg Udang Prison will be under EMCO for two weeks from tomorrow, and will involve 3,499 inmates but not the prison’s quarters. – Bernama, June 22, 2021
