GEORGE TOWN – Another detainee was found positive for Covid-19 yesterday at the Penang remand prison here.
He was in a different cell from the other detainees who tested positive last week.
Currently, 19 detainees have the coronavirus after the outbreak in prison was first discovered when an 85-year-old murder suspect collapsed and died in the prison.
A post-mortem later confirmed he had Covid-19.
Penang remand prison director Mohamed Jusoh Ismail said those tested positive have been quarantined.
“Nineteen detainees have been confirmed positive for Covid-19 and all of them are aged between 25 and 65. They are in stable condition and their close contacts who are being quarantined are in good condition.”
He said all 2,300 detainees had been screened for Covid-19 and prison management were waiting for further action by the Health Ministry.
Jusoh said about 20 prison staff members who were in close contact with the affected detainees would undergo a second screening after testing negative in the first one.
“The first test found the employees were negative Covid-19 but after our discussions with the ministry today, they will undergo a second test to be safe.”
He said the sanitation process is still ongoing in the remand prison and being carried out by prison staff with a team from the Health Ministry. – The Vibes, October 12, 2020
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