MINISTER of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, has urged persons to take the necessary precautions to mitigate the impact of flooding caused by persistent heavy rainfall countrywide.
During Thursday’s COVID-19 update, Dr. Anthony advised individuals to ensure that the water used for consumption is clean, by either boiling or treating it with bleach.
“I would urge that you take those extra precautions to keep your water supply safe. If you do that, then we will not see an increase in the diarrhoeal diseases, especially in children,” Dr. Anthony said, adding that health teams across the country are monitoring the situation.
Further, he related: “in addition to these diarrhoeal diseases that we normally see, we’re also on the lookout for skin rashes because people would be walking through the water. They can get skin infections. So that’s another thing that we are on the lookout for.”

The Health Minister said too that flooding in several parts of Regions Eight and Nine, is not responsible for the increased number of COVID-19 cases in those areas. He is encouraging persons to continue adhering to all preventative measures.
“In those flooded communities, again, if people are clustering and not taking the precautions then obviously, we wouldn’t be able to see a decrease in cases. So, again, not because we have rain and flooding conditions, it would mean that we can abandon the measures that we are taking for COVID-19. COVID-19 is very much present it will continue to be around unless we are all vaccinated.” Communities in Regions One, Two, Three, Six, Seven, Nine and 10 have been under water due to heavy rainfall.
The government, through the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has been providing support to affected communities nationwide. (DPI)