NIBONG TEBAL – A total of 14 inmates at the Seberang Prai Prison, Jawi near here waiting to be released within a month were confirmed positive for Covid-19 on Sunday, said its director Zulkifli Abdul Manah.
He said all the prisoners were confirmed positive after undergoing the second Covid-19 screening test conducted by the Ministry of Health (MOH).
“It is now a prison procedure that inmates waiting to be released have to undergo a Covid-19 screening test to ensure they are free of the virus so that it does not spread outside when they are released.
“Currently, those who are positive are placed with other inmates who are confirmed positive and all of them are in stable condition and will only be released after they fully recover,” he said when contacted by Bernama yesterday.
To date, Seberang Perai Prison has recorded 270 positive Covid-19 cases with three active cases involving prison officers, all of whom have recovered and been discharged from Penang Hospital.
Seberang Prai Prison and its surrounding area including staff quarters, which has 2,110 inmates, 1,129 prison staff and family members as well as 32 government employees, is currently under the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) until November 4. – Bernama, November 3, 2020
