Malaysia has officially lifted the face mask mandate for indoor settings which is one of the last remaining COVID-19 SOPs. With immediate effect starting today (7th September 2022), wearing a face mask indoors is now optional and it is only mandatory in selected scenarios.
Today I announced face masks indoors will be optional effective immediately. However, it’s still mandatory in all health care facilities (hospitals, clinics, nursing homes etc) and in public transport. High-risks individuals encouraged to keep their masks on.
— Khairy Jamaluddin 🇲🇾🌺 (@Khairykj) September 7, 2022
However, premise owners still reserve the right to require visitors to wear a face mask or to make wearing one optional. This means businesses and venue operators can still decide to continue enforcing the compulsory face masking rule and refuse entry to individuals who don’t comply.
Face masks are still required in healthcare facilities and public transport. According to the Ministry of Health, public transport also includes taxi, ehailing, flights, bus, staff vans and school vans.
While Malaysia’s COVID-19 cases have been under control, the government still recommends individuals wear a face mask in crowded and poorly ventilated areas. Face masks are also recommended for symptomatic (coughing, fever, flu), high-risk individuals or when interacting with high-risk individuals such as senior citizens and children.
It is also highly recommended that you wear a mask in the following scenarios;
— Dimishtra (@dimishtra) September 7, 2022
– crowded and poorly ventilated areas
– symptomatic individuals
– high-risk individuals
It is important to continue other good practices like hand & respiratory hygiene and environmental cleanliness.
Prior to this, the government has lifted the mandatory face mask requirement for outdoor settings effective 1st May 2022 as part of its transition to endemic phase. All economic sectors and international borders have been reopened fully. The latest decision comes after Singapore recently made face masks optional indoors from 29th August except for healthcare facilities, residential care homes as well as medical and public transport.
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