KUALA LUMPUR:The Prisons Department has issued new standard operating procedures (SOP) to curb the spread of COVID-19 in prisons, said Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said according to the SOP, new prisoners would not be immediately place in jail but would be quarantined in separate areas for 14 days.

"Inmates with symptoms during the quarantine period must be referred to the hospital and a second screening will be done on the 13th day.

"After the quarantine period, inmates found to be negative will be transferred to the permanent cell block on the 15th day and will be separated for five days before mixing with other prisoners," he said in a virtual press conference from his residence via the Defence Ministry's Facebook today.

He said the department would set up and activate a COVID-19 crisis management secretariat committee to ensure that new prisoners would be tightly controlled despite having undergone quarantine and found to be negative.

Among the other SOPs is to create and operate a temporary prison to avoid congestion and create a base for members of the Ministry of Health in the nearby area to treat non-critical prisoners in the cell block.

He added that the existing inmates in the prison are not allowed to go out except for the purpose of treatment and to reduce congestion. Movement in the prison is also restricted except for cleaning and kitchen inmates.

"Family visits are cancelled immediately and the prison will also sanitise inside and outside twice a day," he said.

Ismail Sabri said for the escort or transfer of inmates to the court, social distancing in the vehicle will be implemented and health checks on escort officers and inmates should be done to confirm they are fit to travel and free of COVID-19 symptoms.

"The court has also agreed to conduct trials related to remand cases through video conference," he said.

The prison will also ensure that safety aids and vehicles to be used have been disinfected as well as provide gloves, face masks and hand sanitiser at all times.

For more information, the public can refer to the website of the Malaysian Prisons Department and MKN.

-- BERNAMA