TAIPING prison and its staff quarters have been placed under the enhanced movement-control order (EMCO) for two weeks after recording a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases, Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

In a statement today, Ismail Sabri explained that the EMCO at the prison will begin tomorrow and remain in place till February 8.

Taiping prison follows Bentong prison, which was placed under a two-week EMCO yesterday.

“The Health Ministry has confirmed that there has been a spike in Covid-19 cases at the Taiping prison and its staff quarters.

“As of January 23, 43 cases have been detected involving 40 inmates and three prison staff.

“The government has decided to impose EMCO from January 26 to February 8. The Health Ministry will conduct targeted screening to all inmates and staff at the prison,” he said.

“The EMCO standard operating procedure at the prison is the same as announced previously, including the entry and exit of people, and visits by family members not being allowed,” he said.

Yesterday, the government imposed EMCO at the Bentong prison after recording 615 positive cases involving 574 prisoners, 34 staff and five family members. – January 25, 2021.