GEORGE TOWN: Ninety-nine per cent of Covid-19 tests carried out on some 300 Penang Remand Prison personnel and those staying in the prison quarters have came back negative.
Its director Mohamed Jusoh Ismail said they were still awaiting results of the other tests, which they hope to obtain by Wednesday.
"All of them had been screened (for Covid-19) since (last) Thursday until Saturday. We have received about 99 per cent of the test results, which came back negative.
"In fact, the prison staff had also been screened a second time, which also came back negative for the coronavirus.
"Beginning yesterday (Monday), the Health Ministry carried out blood tests on all the prison staff to ensure all are free from Covid-19," he said today.
Jusoh said the Remand Prison cluster also did not log any new positive case yesterday (Monday), with the number of active cases still at 399, all of which involve inmates there.
"They are still being treated and all are in stable condition," he added.
Penang currently has two major Covid-19 clusters — the Penang Remand Prison cluster and the Jawi Prison cluster — making the prisons the third and fourth penal institutions in the country to record Covid-19 infections after Tawau in Sabah and Alor Star in Kedah.
The first active case was reported inside the Penang Remand Prison following the death of an 85-year-old inmate on Oct 5.
The Penang Remand Prison and prison quarters were placed under Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) on Thursday after the active cases among the inmates there surged.
Meanwhile, the 14 new Covid-19 cases at the Seberang Prai Prison detected on Monday all involved inmates.
Its director Zulkifli Abdul Manah said, to date, only two prison officers there have contracted the virus.
He said the first screening for all prison staff and inmates there had been completed.
"All inmates tested positive for Covid-19 have been isolated in a block inside the prison used as a temporary ward. They are being closely monitored by health workers, and in stable condition.
"As of yesterday, there are no more Covid-19 cases involving prison officers. Both the officers tested positive are being treated at the Penang Hospital. They are also in stable condition," he added.
Meanwhile, Zulkifli said the second swab test for prison staff was ongoing and expected to be completed this week.
"Swab tests for new inmates have also been completed. After this, we will carry out swab tests on the old inmates there, who are staying in a separate block from the new inmates. They have a low risk of infection," he said.