KUALA LUMPUR: The wearing of face masks will no longer be compulsory on public transport and in hospitals, effective July 5, said Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
She said under the revised Covid-19 standard operating procedure (SOP), only Covid-19 positive individuals and those handling them are required to wear face masks in healthcare facilities.
She said the quarantine period for Covid-19 positive individuals would be cut from seven to five days from the onset of symptoms, also effective July 5.
“High-risk individuals like senior citizens, those with chronic diseases, individuals with low immunity or pregnant women are encouraged to wear face masks, especially in crowded places and areas with poor ventilation,” she said in a statement today.
She said individuals with respiratory symptoms are also encouraged to mask up to avoid spreading infections on public transport.
Dr Zaliha said the isolation period for Covid-19 patients would be shortened because studies showed that infectivity is high in the first five days from onset of symptoms, when the viral load is high.
She also said although the Covid-19 situation was not at a worrying level and health services were not under pressure, the ministry had decided to extend the status of local infection areas in Malaysia, due to end tomorrow, by another six months until Dec 31, 2023.
This is to facilitate management of the disease as there are risks of emergence of new variants and sub-variants of SARS-CoV-2 in the country.
"Apart from this, mass gatherings are expected to occur during the Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration and also (coming) state elections, which risk contributing to an increase in cases and burdening the government healthcare service system if prevention and control measures are not fully implemented.
"It is to enable the enforcement of several provisions under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the Infected Local Areas) (National Recovery Plan) (Transition to Endemic Phase) Regulations 2022, formulated on the powers of the Minister under subsection 11(2) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342)," she said.
