Coronavirus: Malaysia may reintroduce mask mandate at schools due to resurgence in subvariant Covid cases
- Guidelines and the standard operating procedure will be released before Malaysian schools reopen on May 2
- Since September, the use of face masks on school premises was no longer mandatory, but it was encouraged
A report quoted Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa as saying that the move was to avoid the resurgence of Covid-19 due to the XBB1.16 or Arcturus variant.
Dr Zaliha said she would hold a meeting with Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek on the matter soon.
We are worried that students will get infected after moving around due to the Hari Raya holidays, which could cause a Covid-19 outbreak in schools
The guidelines and the standard operating procedure will be released before school reopens on May 2.
“This is important because we are worried that students will get infected after moving around due to the Hari Raya holidays, which could cause a Covid-19 outbreak in schools,” she told Berita Harian.
Dr Zaliha told The Star the use of face masks is a recommendation and not a mandate.
Asked whether the ministry is considering recommending the use of face masks beyond just schools and to the public, she said, “Yes, soon.”
“We have been consistent in encouraging people to wear masks,” she added.
National Union of the Teaching Profession secretary general Fouzi Singon said while the group agrees with the proposal to make face masks compulsory again, the existing rules are sufficient and need to be reaffirmed.
He said most schools have not made it mandatory.
Coronavirus: Malaysia to lift more curbs; India’s Modi urges jabs for children
“So it is appropriate for schools and parents to take appropriate measures to ensure that parents themselves are not worried about sending their children to school,” he said.
Since September, the use of face masks on school premises was no longer mandatory. However, it was encouraged.
On Monday, the ministry announced that 12 cases of the Arcturus subvariant had been detected in the country.
Six cases were detected in Sarawak, four in Selangor, and two in Kuala Lumpur.
