As Standard Operating Procedures for Covid-19 are being eased across the world including in Malaysia, especially with vaccination reaching satisfactory levels, there are questions if mask wearing should still be mandated.
Recently, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin in his pre-Hari Raya public address on SOP’s announced that masks are longer compulsory for outdoors but advised them to be used while indoors. Asia is still apprehensive when it comes to mask-wearing and can be seen still using them even then advisory states that it is no longer necessary. However, the situation differs in the Western world, where many believe the enforced policy infringes on their rights. But the situation will be awkward when a mask wearing Asian meets a maskless Westerner!
But we digress, the clear instruction in the Western nations like the US is that mask-wearing is not compulsory but more of a recommendation, the recent advisory from Centre of Disease Control is that everyone aged 2 and older – including passengers and workers – properly wear a well-fitting mask or respirator over the nose and mouth in indoor areas of public transportation (such as airplanes, trains, etc.) and transportation hubs (such as airports, stations, etc.).
The CDC added, that when people properly wear a well-fitting mask or respirator, they protect themselves and those around them, and help keep travel and public transportation safer for everyone. Wearing a well-fitting mask or respirator is most beneficial in crowded or poorly ventilated locations, such as airport jetways. CDC also encourages operators of public transportation and transportation hubs to support mask wearing by all people, including employees.
