THE Penang Prison department quarters in Timur Laut will be placed under enhanced movement-control order (EMCO), said Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The EMCO for the department quarters will involve prison staff and their families, Ismail Sabri said during a press conference today.

Yesterday, the Penang Prison at Gaol Road was also placed EMCO after a cluster was detected there involving a deceased inmate last week.

The EMCO will start on October 15 involving over 2,830 people, including inmates. 

Ismail Sabri did not mention the end date for the control order.

He said the EMCO will allow authorities to control movement around the area for Covid-19 screenings.

With the implementation of the EMCO, all movement in and out of the area is strictly prohibited, he said.

“However, prison staff may be allowed to leave and enter the area subject to the SOPs set by the Prison Department,” he said.

He added that any prisoner released during the EMCO period will be isolated from the others before being allowed to return to society.

“If they test negative, the prisoner will be quarantined at a location that will be decided by the state disaster management committee before being released.

“Prisoners who test positive will immediately be sent to a hospital for treatment after their release,” he said. – October 13, 2020.