THE Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has come under fire for urging the Government to review its mandatory indoor face masking policy, following Singapore’s decision to loosen its masking rules.
Yesterday (Aug 31), MMA president Dr Koh Kar Chai said it was time for the authorities to do away with the policy now that the current COVID-19 situation remains under control.
However, he clarified that the policy should still be in place for certain public transport services where people are cramming together for a long duration, as well as nursing and old folks’ homes and healthcare facilities.
Similarly, Singapore still requires people in the island-state to wear face masks when boarding public transport and while at healthcare facilities.
Disabled rights collective Boleh Space said the MMA should be more “responsible” for the health and lives of people more vulnerable to complications from COVID-19, such as the disabled, the chronically ill and the elderly.
“We do not just go to healthcare facilities and stay home. We go to school, to universities and to work, including as frontliners,” the group said in a tweet yesterday (Aug 31).
“The masking indoors policy helps us reduce the likelihood of long COVID and dying,” it added. “When people wear masks, they protect themselves and the people around them too.”
Senior consultant pediatrician Dr Amar-Singh HSS urged the MMA to reconsider their position, saying the data on long COVID, even among vaccinated folk, is “substantial”:
“Concerning impact of long COVID”
Amar further noted that World Health Organisation (WHO) chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan had expressed concern over the long-term impact of COVID-19, namely large increases in cardiovascular, neurological and mental health disorders.
“Long COVID-19 needs to be a serious part of the discussion,” he said.
Echoing this, Malaysian Health Coalition (MHC) policy officer Sean Thum said:
One Twitter user said: “I don’t get it, really. Two years of not being in crowded restaurants where people feel it’s okay to cough and sneeze loudly without any mitigation. I guess they missed it.”
However, Johor DAP’s outspoken leader Dr Boo Cheng Hau said he agrees with the MMA, noting that Malaysia has entered into an endemic stage where the COVID-19 virus’ prevalence, morbidity and mortality are under control.
Even so, Boo, who is a medical doctor by training, noted there are two aspects that need to be monitored.
“Firstly, children under the age of five have not been vaccinated yet against COVID-19 as we are still awaiting Pfizer’s submission to the US Food and Drugs Agency (FDA) for emergency approval of its vaccine use among children of that age group, who are still vulnerable.
“Secondly, the Health Ministry (MOH) must keep a close watch on the second generation multivalent vaccines, which are yet to be made available,” he told FocusM.
Some users, like Chan Wern Shen, said they would continue to mask up to protect themselves, regardless of any policy change:
The compulsory use of face masks in Malaysia started on Aug 1, 2020, and was aimed at minimising or controlling the community-level spread of COVID-19 during the early phases of the pandemic.
The wearing of masks has been shown to protect people from contracting COVID-19, according to research and official Government data, though the quality of masks worn does play a major role in its protection rate.
Effective May 1 this year, it is no longer compulsory for people in Malaysia to wear face masks when outdoors. However, it remains mandatory in enclosed places or where crowds are expected. – Sept 1, 2022
Main photo credit: AFP
