KUALA LUMPUR – The enhanced movement control order (EMCO) imposed on Kedah’s Pokok Sena Prison, which was slated to end on October 24, has been extended by two weeks.
This follows the detection of more Covid-19 cases among inmates and prison officers, said Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in a statement today.
“As such, on the advice of the Health Ministry and a proposal by the National Security Council, the government has agreed to extend the EMCO here until November 7.
“This is to ensure the Covid-19 chain is broken, especially among the prison staff.”
The EMCO imposed on Tawau Prison and the Taman Ehsan prison quarters in Sabah, meanwhile, will end on Sunday, having been in effect since September 11.
“Up to October 21, the Health Ministry has conducted 1,250 screenings at the prison and 1,196 at the quarters,” said Ismail Sabri.
“To date, there are no more active cases recorded at Tawau Prison, while there are only two cases at the quarters.
“As such, the government has agreed to end the EMCO in these two locations on October 25. However, these localities will still be subjected to the conditional MCO that is currently imposed in Sabah.”
He said police arrested 639 individuals yesterday for violating Covid-19 standard operating procedures, of whom 634 were issued compounds, remanded (4) and out on bail (1). – The Vibes, October 23, 2020