THE donning of face masks will no longer be mandatory at indoor places with immediate effect.
“Today I announced face masks indoors will be optional effective immediately,” Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin pointed out in a tweet.
“However, it’s still mandatory in all healthcare facilities (hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, etc) and in public transport. High-risks individuals encouraged to keep their masks on.”
Today I announced face masks indoors will be optional effective immediately. However, it’s still mandatory in all health care facilities (hospitals, clinics, nursing homes etc) and in public transport. High-risks individuals encouraged to keep their masks on.
— Khairy Jamaluddin 🇲🇾🌺 (@Khairykj) September 7, 2022
With the latest development, wearing of face masks indoor which has become a norm since the first movement control order (MCO) on March 18, 2020 has now become optional or rather at the sole discretion of the individual.
This is after Malaysia did away with the requirement to wear face masks in outdoor settings from May 1.
However, Khairy did stress that premise owners – whether shopping malls or hair saloon – have the right to impose the rule of wearing face masks on their customers if they deem that their premises are at risk of COVID-19 infection.
Nevertheless, the wearing of face mask is still compulsory if one is in a public transport, notably buses, trains (LRT/MRT/KTM Komuter) or when taking e-hailing rides. This also includes flights, school buses and factory buses (or vans).
Similarly, masking up is also compulsory if one is COVID-19 positive or is a close contact or if one is in a hospital environment, clinic, healthcare facility or even hemodialysis centre.
Aside from the above venues, the Health Ministry (MOH) continues to encourage the wearing of face masks in crowded places such as the pasar malam, stadium, shopping malls or places of worship.
Likewise, those who exhibit flu-like symptoms or even high-risk individuals – the elderly, people with chronic diseases or low immunity and pregnant women – are also encouraged to continue donning face masks. – Sept 7, 2022
Main pic credit: Channel News Asia
