16 Prisoners In Pekanbaru Prison Positive For COVID-19, One Person Died

Illustrated (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - At least 16 inmates at the Class IIA Pekanbaru Correctional Institution were confirmed positive for COVID-19, and one of them has died.

"There is one prisoner who died with a positive COVID-19 swab, because he has a history of heart disease," said Head of Riau's Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Ibnu Chulud in a press statement in Pekanbaru, reported by Antara, Friday, October 30.

According to him, in addition to 16 prisoners, there were also 5 prison officers who were confirmed positive for COVID-19. In addition, a prisoner who tested positive for COVID-19 is currently being treated at Awal Bros Hospital, Pekanbaru.

The transmission of the Corona Virus is thought to be spreading rapidly because of the overcapacity of the Pekanbaru prison. According to Ibnu, the facility has a capacity of 771 people, but the occupants now reach 1,502 people. While the number of employees is 109 people.

Meanwhile, the inmate who has passed away is named Syahrizal Hamid. The deceased was a convict in a corruption case with a sentence of eight years in prison, a four-month substitute fine, and five years in compensation.

He said the history of the deceased's disease, namely heart disease, and he had been taken for treatment several times from the Pekanbaru prison. The deceased was allowed to leave the prison on a recommendation by the prison doctor accompanied by an officer.

He said that on Monday, October 26 2020 at 03.00 WIB, he experienced shortness of breath and was released at 04.13 WIB. Arriving at the hospital, the patient was hospitalized. After being examined and on an X-ray, it was stated that there was a picture of COVID-19 in his lungs.

"The residents in the correctional facility were taken out under guard by doctor Rosamawati and guarded and accompanied by their families and were treated to this day, and were declared dead," he said.

As an anticipatory measure, he said the Riau Regional Office of Law and Human Rights was coordinating with the local health office to carry out a swab test for all residents of the Pekanbaru prison. The swab test is carried out in stages because there are quite a lot of prison residents.