Suppressing The Spread Of COVID-19, Prisoners In Nusakambangan Urge To Ask For Vaccines

Nusakambangan Prison Urges for COVID-19 Vaccination

PURWOKERTO – After the death of one Permisan inmate due to COVID-19, Head of Class I Penitentiary, Batu Jalu Yuswa Panjang, hopes that the inmates of eight prisons on Nusakambangan Island, Cilacap Regency, Central Java, will be vaccinated immediately.

Jalu explained until now there are three inmates at Permisan Prison who are undergoing treatment at the Cilacap Hospital because they have been confirmed positive for COVID-19. Therefore, Jalu said, vaccination for Nusakambangan prisoners should be as soon as possible.

"The need for vaccines for prisoners in Nusakambangan is urgent because yesterday on July 26, 2021, one prisoner from Jakarta who had been in Permisan Prison for a long time died of COVID-19", said Jalu when contacted from Purwokerto, Banyumas Regency, Wednesday, July 28.

The coordinator of prisons throughout Nusakambangan and Cilacap suspects that the transmission of COVID-19 in prisoners comes from officers who are asymptomatic (OTG).

"Based on the results of a quick test, there were 18 Permisan Prison officers who were positive so they underwent self-isolation in Cilacap. In addition, there were 180 positive inmates with mild symptoms so they underwent isolation in prison", said Jalu

Regarding the implementation of inmates vaccination in eight prisons throughout Nusakambangan, Jalu admitted that his party had coordinated with the Cilacap Military District Commander. And from the results of the coordination, Jalu said, if there are no problems, the vaccination for prisoners throughout Nusakambangan is scheduled for mid-August 2021.

"Hopefully there will be no obstacles, although we hope it can be implemented as soon as possible because it is urgent", said Jalu.

A total of 2,861 prisoners in eight prisons throughout Nusakambangan, there are 1,994 inmates in prisons with maximum security and medium security, to be vaccinated immediately.

Meanwhile, vaccination for prisoners in prisons with super-maximum security can be carried out following vaccination in prisons with maximum security and moderate security.

Jalu added that this number does not include inmates in Cilacap Prison which is estimated to reach 400 people.

"Inmates in maximum security and medium-security prisons are in crowded conditions, so it is very risky for COVID-19 transmission to occur. Meanwhile, for prisoners in super maximum-security prisons, transmission can be minimized because the prison applies the one man one cell pattern, but of course, they have to get the vaccine", he said.