Penang Prison Undergoes Sanitisation After Dead Inmate Tests Positive For COVID-19
The prisoner had a medical history of tuberculosis and HIV.
By Lee Yong Jin — 07 Oct 2020, 12:11 PM
Penang Remand Prison has quarantined all staff and inmates after a prisoner who died in the prison on 5 October tested positive for COVID-19
The director of the Penang Remand Prison, Mohamed Jusoh Ismail, confirmed the death of a male inmate but did not indicate any verification that he had died of COVID-19, when contacted by Bernama.
"I can only say that the prison has taken necessary action by isolating and placing those who were in close contact with the inmate under quarantine to prevent untoward incidents," Jusoh said.
"Whether or not the inmate died of COVID-19, I cannot comment. You have to wait for the Ministry of Health's statement."
The inmate was found unconscious by a prison warden and was declared dead in Penang Hospital at 7.50am on Monday, 5 October
According to The Star, George Town district police chief ACP Soffian Santong confirmed that the 85-year-old inmate had tested positive for COVID-19 after passing away."
[He] was tested for COVID-19 and was found positive at around 2pm on Monday at the Penang Hospital," ACP Soffian said.
"He had a history of being treated for tuberculosis and HIV at the Penang Hospital."
The body remained at the hospital following standard operating procedure (SOP), and the state Health Department has been notified of the positive case.
