Covid-19: Wearing of double face masks recommended, says Health DG

PETALING JAYA: The wearing of double face masks in public spaces is encouraged but not mandatory, says Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah (pic).

The Health director-general said that according to the US government's Centre of Control Disease (CDC), the wearing of double 3-ply masks is 95% effective in keeping out viruses.

He said that an assessment published by medical journal the Lancet reported strong evidence that the virus could be airborne and not only spread by droplets.

“It is encouraged but not mandatory. It is mandatory to wear at least one face mask, ” he said during a press conference on Saturday (May 22).

He had been asked why he had been wearing double face masks and goggles, as a picture of this went viral on social media recently.

Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that face masks must be worn by everyone in public spaces, even though they use face shields or the niqab.

“It is mandatory to wear face masks in public. They can add an extra layer of protection with face shields, but the face mask has to be worn, ” he said.