Face shields suffice

School children under-12 allowed to wear face shields to lessen parents’ burden of buying disposal face masks

KUALA LUMPUR: Children aged 12 years and below are allowed to wear face shields instead of face masks when a ending school, says Senior Minister ( Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said this was decided at the Special Meeting of Ministers on the Movement Control Order (MCO) yesterday and was agreed to by the Health Ministry (MOH).

However, the pupils are encouraged to wear both the face shield and face mask, he told a press conference on the Recovery MCO ( RMCO) at Parliament building here yesterday.

“It would be be er if they wear both face shield and face mask but even without a face mask, the face shield can be considered adequate protection for their health,” he added.

He said this relaxation was given to ease the financial burden on parents, especially those from low-income families with many children.

“This will make it easier for poor students, as I understand that a face shield costs between RM3 and RM5 and can be used for months.

“The disposable face masks are quite a burden on poor families... if one piece costs RM1, (a family with) five children would mean RM5 a day,” he said.

Ismail Sabri said MOH should draw up guidelines on cleaning and washing face shields to ensure they are safe to use for the long term.

On another subject, he said the Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will announce this week whether or not the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) will be extended.

He, however, did not say when the announcement would be made exactly.

Previously, the Ministry of Health (MOH) had recommended that the RMCO, which is scheduled to end on Aug 31, be extended until the Covid-19 pandemic is under control.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said the proposal had been submi ed to the Prime Minister and the National Security Council (MKN).

Meanwhile, commenting on Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali’s RM1,000 fine for not complying with the mandatory 14-day quarantine a er returning from Turkey on July 7, Ismail Sabri asked for the case to be handed over to the police for investigation.

“The procedure is the MOH has issued a maximum compound of RM1,000, the rest is to take the case to court, police will open an investigation paper and submit it to the A orney-General, who will then decide whether or not to charge him in court,” he said.

The issue of Mohd Khairuddin not complying with the quarantine standard operating procedure (SOP) was raised by Seputeh Member of Parliament Teresa Kok in Dewan Rakyat and subsequently a racted the a ention of various parties.

The MOH then issued a press statement announcing that the ministry had issued a RM1,000 compound to Mohd Khairuddin on Aug 7.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador also confirmed that police had opened an investigation paper on Mohd Khairuddin over the ma er. — Bernama

This will make it easier for poor students, as I understand that a face shield costs between RM3 and RM5 and can be used for months.

Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob