Covid-19: More than 2k prisoners and detainees have tested positive since May

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 2,184 prisoners and detainees have tested positive for Covid-19 since May, says Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Mohamed Said.

"Based on the Prisons Department's statistics, a total of 60,583 prisoners and detainees were screened between Aug 29 and Dec 8.

"Of this, 829 prisoners were found to be positive for Covid-19," he said when answering a question by Dr Lee Boon Chye (PH-Gopeng) in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Dec 9).

Ismail added that a total of 1,355 detainees held at immigration depots under the Immigration Department tested positive for Covid-19 between May 1 and Dec 8.

He said that the Bukit Jalil immigration depot recorded the highest number of infections with 650 cases followed by the depots in Langkap (481), Semenyih (127) and KLIA (77); while the remaining 20 cases were recorded at the Belantik, Putrajaya, Machap Umboo, Lenggeng and Juru depots.

Lee had raised concerns over the spread of Covid-19 among prisoners and inmates, and asked whether the SOP (standard operating procedure) was being adhered to with regard to their detention.

Ismail assured lawmakers that prison and immigration officers including the police are following the SOP by the Health Ministry to curb the spread of the virus.

Besides physical distancing and the use of face masks and sanitisers, he said the prison and immigration departments and police have implemented a two-step process with regard to inmates and detainees.

He said the process involves the authorities keeping a watch on the receiving and movement of inmates and detainees.

"The process involves a 14-day period with regard to receiving inmates and detainees where they will be isolated for five days and tested – those who test positive would be sent to the hospital for treatment.

"If they test negative, they will be detained for another nine days at a different room and transferred to the prison after 14 days if they do not show any signs of symptoms," he added.

Ismail also said that suspects brought to court for trial by the police would be handcuffed individually and not in groups if the situation permitted.

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 2,184 prisoners and detainees have tested positive for Covid-19 since May, says Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Mohamed Said.

"Based on the Prisons Department's statistics, a total of 60,583 prisoners and detainees were screened between Aug 29 and Dec 8.

"Of this, 829 prisoners were found to be positive for Covid-19," he said when answering a question by Dr Lee Boon Chye (PH-Gopeng) in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Dec 9).

Ismail added that a total of 1,355 detainees held at immigration depots under the Immigration Department tested positive for Covid-19 between May 1 and Dec 8.

He said that the Bukit Jalil immigration depot recorded the highest number of infections with 650 cases followed by the depots in Langkap (481), Semenyih (127) and KLIA (77); while the remaining 20 cases were recorded at the Belantik, Putrajaya, Machap Umboo, Lenggeng and Juru depots.

Lee had raised concerns over the spread of Covid-19 among prisoners and inmates, and asked whether the SOP (standard operating procedure) was being adhered to with regard to their detention.

Ismail assured lawmakers that prison and immigration officers including the police are following the SOP by the Health Ministry to curb the spread of the virus.

Besides physical distancing and the use of face masks and sanitisers, he said the prison and immigration departments and police have implemented a two-step process with regard to inmates and detainees.

He said the process involves the authorities keeping a watch on the receiving and movement of inmates and detainees.

"The process involves a 14-day period with regard to receiving inmates and detainees where they will be isolated for five days and tested – those who test positive would be sent to the hospital for treatment.

"If they test negative, they will be detained for another nine days at a different room and transferred to the prison after 14 days if they do not show any signs of symptoms," he added.

Ismail also said that suspects brought to court for trial by the police would be handcuffed individually and not in groups if the situation permitted.