GEORGE TOWN: Penang Remand Prison has had zero Covid-19 cases recently, with all its 2,238 inmates having been fully vaccinated since September.

       Its deputy director Supt Mohd Suhairi Awang said the inmates were given the single-dose CanSino vaccine.

       He added that 331 prison officers and administration staffers were also fully vaccinated.

       “We have the situation under control – everyone was given the one-dose CanSino vaccine.

       “New inmates who come in will also be vaccinated in stages.

       “Although there are no Covid-19 cases, we have allocated a special building for any eventuality as a prevention measure in case of any virus outbreak,” he said after receiving festive goodies from the Malaysian Hindu Dharma Mamandram for prison inmates yesterday.

       In October last year, there was a Covid-19 outbreak at the Penang Remand Prison with the index case being an 85-year-old prisoner who later died.

       This sparked hundreds of cases, with the whole of Jalan Penjara, a section of Jalan Berek and part of Jalan Lim Khoon Huat surrounding Penang Remand Prison closed and placed under an enhanced movement control order.

       A total of 2,298 inmates in Penang Remand Prison, seven staff quarters with 117 units and eight prison officials’ houses were affected by the first enhanced MCO in Penang that lasted two weeks from Oct 15 last year.

       That same month, the Seberang Prai Prison and its staff quarters were also put under an enhanced MCO for 14 days until Nov 4.

       A total of 3,262 individuals were affected, comprising 2,110 prisoners, 1,000 prison staff members and families staying in the quarters, 120 prison staff members not staying at the quarters, as well as 32 public servants.

       This resulted in the postponement of trials and remand cases involving inmates as well.