Remaining vigilant is the best thing to do

SCHOOL begins for most Malaysian students on Tuesday amid a still ongoing debate among parents, teachers, the Health Ministry and the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) about wearing masks again.

It began with the World Health Organisation (WHO) designating the Acrturus variant “of interest” after it was reported in 33 countries earlier this month.

WHO has categorised the Arcturus variant as low risk compared with other Omicron sub-variants circulating.

Malaysia has recorded some cases of the highly transmissible variant, which is perhaps why Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa had earlier last week proposed asking students and staff to mask up at school; on Friday, she said she will be meeting with Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek to discuss the matter.

The National Union of the Teaching Profession welcomed the Health Ministry’s suggestion, saying schools had relaxed the SOP since the country entered the transition stage to Covid-19 endemicity last year, and it is perhaps time to mask up again as a precautionary measure.

The MMA, however, is of the view that schools should prioritise hand hygiene over wearing masks.

At this stage, washing or sanitising one’s hands is more important than wearing masks in preventing Covid-19 from spreading in schools, it said.

Only students with symptoms or a medical condition that may put them at high risk should be wearing masks, it added.

So what should parents do? What you think is best for your child while the authorities deliberate on the right guidelines.

Does wearing a mask distract her too much from lessons? Do you worry he will contract this stubborn disease? Perhaps sending your child off to school in a mask seems like a sensible precaution to take.

Whatever you think about masking up, making sure your children know to wash their hands often is, of course, not debatable.

Dr Zaliha has pointed out that no new guidelines have been issued despite the emergence of new Omicron sub-variants, which is perhaps why her ministry is encouraging all of us – not just schoolchildren – to wear masks in crowded public situations and on public transport, and especially if Covid-19 symptoms show up.

It makes sense that we can’t quite drop our guard yet.

As for us, with the haze rearing its ugly head again, masks seem a sensible addition to our wardrobe once again.