Mandatory mask-up in Malaysia starts today

Today marks the first day that Malaysia is making it mandatory for people to wear a mask in crowded places and on public transportation. 

From The Star..

The mandatory use of face masks from Aug 1 will be for crowded public places where social distancing cannot be practised, says Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said this rule, already implemented for public transport, would now be enforced for those frequenting crowded public areas.

However, Dr Noor Hisham did not specify the kind of crowded public place where the use of face masks among patrons were mandatory.

"If you are walking alone, there is no need to wear a face mask.

"If you are in public and the place is crowded and social distancing cannot be created, the use of face masks is mandatory," he said at a media engagement session on Wednesday (July 29).

The plan is to eventually get everyone to adorn face masks once they step out of the house.

The World Health Organisation now recommends that you wear a three-layer fabric face mask every time you go in public where social distancing is impossible. The use of masks is to help slow the spread of Covid-19 as many who are positive with the virus are asymptomatic.

You can make your own fabric masks. You Tube has many tutorials on how to make face masks, even hand-stitching methods.

WHO has indicated that the mask must be of three layers of fabric each made of a different material to serve a different protective role.

The recommendation is for an inner layer of an absorbent material like cotton (for example from a t-shirt), a middle layer of a non-woven material such as polypropylene (for a filter, such as like the polypropylene used in reusable grocery bags). Synthetic, non-woven materials are smoother and less porous than pure cotton as a filter. And an outer layer of a non-absorbent material such as polyester or a polyester blend.

Here are the basic Do's and Don'ts of mask wearing courtesy of The Star..