KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry (MOH) expects an increase in positive COVID-19 at relief centres (PPS) nationwide following the floods in the country .

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the reason being that the PPS were considered high-risk areas and public health measures could not be implemented and complied with fully due to the condition.

"During floods, priority is to save the flood victims and sometimes it cannot be helped, where some things that should be done, like public health measures, cannot be implemented or complied with," he told a press conference in Parliament today.

Khairy said as of 11 am today, 181 positive COVID-19 cases had been detected at PPS nationwide involving 117 cases in Selangor, Pahang (52), Kelantan (six), Kuala Lumpur (four) and one each in Negeri Sembilan and Melaka.

According to Khairy, the ministry also identified 206 flood victims as close contacts and they were also transferred to the designated PPS and hospitals.

To cope with the increase in COVID-19 cases, Khairy said the public health system had been set up to receive more patients due to the floods.

"We will increase the number of MOH teams on the ground. We will continue with the screenings at PPS so that we can identify those who are positive for COVID-19 and isolate them and their close contacts," he said, adding that the supply of face masks, hand sanitizers and various other essential items have been sent to all the PPS.

-- BERNAMA