KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 – Children aged 12 and under are allowed to only wear face shield when they go to school, without having to wear disposable face masks, said Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The decision was made during the Special Meeting of Ministers on Movement Control Orders (PKP) today and agreed by the Ministry of Health (MOH), he said at a press conference today.
He also said that however the use of face shield along with face masks is encouraged.
“If they wear face shield and wear face mask it is better, but if there is no face mask, there is only face shield can be considered as protection to one’s own health,” he said.
He said the relaxation was given because of the cost of purchasing disposable face masks which was quite a burden on the families of poor students, especially when they had many children.
“This is to facilitate and give some space and flexibility to poor students because I understand the price of face protection is about RM3 to RM5 a piece and can be used for months.
“To buy disposable face masks, this is quite a burden for the less able families and poor families… if a piece of RM1, if a child of five people, it is already RM5 cost for a day,” he said.
Ismail Sabri said however, the MOH needs to issue guidelines on measures to clean and wash face shield to ensure that it was safe to use for a long time.
Sources: BERNAMA