Face masks not compulsory during school hours, says Ismail Sabri

PUTRAJAYA: The use of face masks during school hours is not compulsory, says Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said guidelines by the Education Ministry only required that schools provide soap, hand sanitizer and carry out temperature checks.

"The use of face mask is not compulsory. Schools are only required to provide masks to students and staff if they show symptoms during school session," he said on Friday (July 17).

(The ministry's guidelines can be downloaded at https://www.moe.gov.my/en/pemberitahuan/announcement/gp-buka-sekolah.)

On compulsory quarantine, Ismail Sabri said a Malaysian returning from overseas on Thursday (July 16) was sent to hospital after tests showed the person was Covid-19 positive.

The individual was among 594 Malaysians to return via the KL International Airport (KLIA) and KLIA2 from Singapore, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Cambodia and Japan.

Ismail Sabri said the rest were ordered to observe the 14-day mandatory quarantine at home.

Between June 10 and July 16,19,298 returnees were screened for Covid-19 at KLIA and KLIA2 and 74 individuals tested positive.