Pupils only need to wear face shields

Minister: Buying masks could burden families

Students aged 12 and below will be allowed to wear only a face shield at school, after concerns that disposable masks could become too expensive for low income families.

Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said children could opt to wear both face shields and face masks, but masks would not be mandatory anymore.

“We have sought to relax mask-wearing for students at school a bit. Buying masks can be a burden to families, especially those who are poor.

“A face mask will cost one child RM1 a day. What if a poor family has five children?

“Therefore, we allow children to wear a face shield, similar to what is being worn in China.

“The price of a face shield is about RM3 to RM5 per piece, and children can wear it for months.

“If the student wants to wear both face shield and face mask, it is even better but it’s up to them,” Ismail Sabri said at a press conference after chairing a special ministerial meeting on Covid-19.

He said the Health Ministry would issue a guide on how to clean and wash a face shield for the benefit of its users.

On another matter, Ismail Sabri said that the meeting had also agreed to relax rules regarding Malaysians with a foreign spouses or children.

“The meeting discussed appeals by several Malaysians who are separated from their spouses or children who are foreigners and are not allowed in the country due to the absence of a long-term pass.

“For someone to obtain a longterm pass, they need to apply for it in the country.

“So we agreed that non-Malaysian spouses or children can enter the country without the pass.

“As soon as they arrive in Malaysia, they must immediately apply for the pass.

“If they do not, they will not be allowed in the country,” he said.

“For permanent residents, they are allowed to enter the country without the need for prior application,” he said.

Ismail Sabri also said that the meeting agreed to allow Malaysians to go overseas for an emergency if it involved family members living abroad.

Affordable safety: According to Ismail Sabri, a face shield costs between RM3 and RM5 and can be worn for months.