Flood victims at relief centres need to be screened, practise physical distancing

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the directive was part of the flood management standard operating procedure (SOP) set by the government to break the COVID-19 chain during the flood season.

He said the relief centres must also be disinfected before receiving flood victims while the evacuation process should comply with the relief centre management guidelines and follow the advice of the Health Ministry.

"The flood victims will also be supplied with face masks and to wear it at all times while the relief centre committee should place family members in the same cubicle.

"Food victims with symptoms will be referred to the health clinic and then placed separately at a special section provided," he said at a news conference on the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) developments, here, today.

On food and beverage preparations at the relief centres, Ismail Sabri said only packed food would be served to the flood victims and no cooking allowed at the relief centres while in operation.

"Also, group activities that affect physical distancing including visiting flood victims at the relief centres are not allowed.

"All enclosed spaces at the relief centres are allowed to open to enable sufficient air circulation so as to remove contaminated particles," he said, adding that details of the flood SOP were available on the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) and National Security Council (MKN) websites.

He also urged all flood victims to follow the SOP and guidelines set to curb the spread of COVID-19 during this wet season.