KOTA KINABALU – With floods hitting Sabahans smack in the middle of the Covid-19 crisis, the authorities are enforcing a specific set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) on flood victims placed in evacuation centres to minimise chances of infection.
Sabah Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the State Disaster Committee will ensure a suitable number of flood victims are placed in each shelter to enable the evacuees to practice safe physical distancing.
“Each centre also has a registration counter where evacuees undergo basic screening and have their MySejahtera phone applications scanned. Those with symptoms will be isolated and be given medical treatment,” he said.
“The state government is also prepared in terms of logistics. We are coordinating all related government agencies to evacuate victims affected by floods and have sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) for it,” he said.
He added that the same set of SOPs for flood disasters was used in November last year.
Masidi who is also state minister of local housing and government said this during his daily Covid-19 live briefing here today.
As of 8pm today, the Civil Defence Force reported that a total of 836 flood victims have been moved to 16 evacuation centres in ten affected districts of Sabah. They include 237 families from 226 villages in Beaufort, Paitan, Kota Kinabalu, Putatan, Penampang, Kota Belud, Tuaran, Papar and Tenom.
In another note, Masidi said the health ministry and police are still investigating the case of a viral video that showed a group of patients drinking from beer cans at a low-risk treatment and quarantine centre here.
“The investigation does not rule out the possibility that health personnel on duty at the centre may also have been involved in allowing the beer to be there,” he said.
“Sabah Health Department is taking this case seriously, and if there are health personnel proven to be involved, they will face disciplinary action under Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993,” he said.
Sabah recorded 432 fresh Covid-19 cases today, with the highest from Tawau (75), followed by Kota Kinabalu (59) and Lahad Datu (48).
Masidi said the number of infected people in Sabah remains high as the public starts becoming relaxed and stops adhering to the SOPs.
“The average SOP compliance rate in Sabah is at 93% today. This is not good enough,” he said.
“Please, it is not the time to be relaxed on the SOPs. Think of your loved ones and stop the spread of Covid-19.” – The Vibes, January 18, 2021
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